HISTORY 


of  the 


Manokin  Presbyterian  Church 


<^-  3 .  /6 


^%^  PRINCETON,  N.  J.  *»/^# 


Purchased    by  the 
Mrs.    Robert   Lenox    Kennedy   Church    History   Fund. 

BX  9211  .P84  F67  1910      ^ 
Ford,  Harry  Pringle,  1856- 

1937. 
History  of  the  Manokin 

PresbYterLian  Church , 


juN  H  im 


HISTORY 


of  the 


Manokin  Presbyterian  Church 


Princess  Anne,  Maryland 


BY 


HARRY  PRINGLE  FORD 

Member    of    the    Pretijterian     Biitorital    Society,     Philadelfhia 


PHILADELPHIA; 
James  M.  Armstrong.  Printer.  718  Sanson  Street. 

tqio. 


To  my  Grandfather, 

ROBERT    PATTERSON, 

a  member  of  the  Manokin  Session  for  nearly  fifty  years; 

To  my  Mother, 
ELIZABETH    PATTERSON    FORD, 

who  united  with  this  church  at  the  age  of  seventeen; 

And  to  all  God's  children  who  have  in  any  way  aided  in  making 
the  work  of  this  hallowed  and  venerable  organization  a 
source  of  spiritual  comfort  and  blessing  along 
the  years — this  labor  of  love  is  affection- 
ately and  gratefully  dedicated. 


CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

Introductory    7 

Pastors  and  Stated  Supplies 11 

The  Church   Buildings    34 

Interesting  Events  from   Sessional  Records 41 

Pr.   Heaton's   Historical   Sermon 65 

List  of  Ministers    82 

List  of  Elders 84 

List  of  Communicant  Members 87 

FJarly  Presbjterianism    91 

Outline  Life  of  Francis  Makemie 94 


INTRODUCTORY. 

The  Manokin  Church  of  Princess  Anne,  Maryland,  is  one 
of  the  oldest  Presbyterian  church  organizations  of  our  country. 
"According  to  reliable  tradition,"  it  shares  with  the  Rehoboth, 
Snow  Hill.  Pitts  Creek  and  M^icomico  churches  the  honor  of 
having  been  organized  about  1683  by  the  Rev.  Francis  Makemie, 
the  recognized  founder  of  organized  Presbyterianism  in  America. 

While  we  have  no  special  desire  to  claim  for  this  church 
priority  of  organization,  yet  it  is  certain  that  one  of  the  first 
buildings  in  America  used  by  a  Presbyterian  congregation  stood 
on  or  near  the  site  of  the  present  Manokin  Church.  As  is  well 
knovai,  all  tliese  Makemie  churches  were,  at  the  time  of  their 
organization,  in  what  was  then  Somerset  County,  on  the  Eastern 
Shore  of  Maryland  ;  and  this,  surely,  is  honor  enough  for  any 
one  section  of  our  land. 

It  is  no  small  distinction  for  Somerset  to  have  been  thus 
prominent  in  the  pioneer  work  of  establishing  the  great  Pres- 
byterian Church  in  America — the  Church  which  inspired  and 
developed  the  patriotic  manhood  that  made  the  Revolutionary 
War  not  only  possible,  but  successful.  The  learned  historian 
Bancroft  declares  that  "the  Revolution  of  1776,  so  far  as  it  was 
affected  by  religion,  was  a  Presbyterian  measure;"  and  again 
he  says:  "The  first  voice  raised  in  America  to  destroy  all  con- 
nection with  Great  Britain  came  from  the  Scotch-Irish  Presby- 
terians." In  "American  Churcli  History,"  Volume  VI,  page  69, 
the  statement  is  made  that  "the  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  bore  the  brunt  of  the  struggle  for  independence,  from 
the  Hudson  to  the  Savannah."  We  all  recall  the  famous  saying 
of  Sir  Horace  Walpole  before  the  English  Parliament:  "Cousin 
America  has  run  off  with  a  Presbyterian  parson  ;"  and  that  of 
King  James:  "Presbyter}-  agreeth  as  well  with  monarchy  as  God 
and  the  devil." 


8  History  of  the  Manokin  Presbyterian  Church. 

Somerset  County  Presbyterians  were  quick  to  respond  to 
their  countrj-'s  call  in  those  heroic  days,  and  gladly  went  forth 
to  fight  her  battles.  Some  of  them  reached  high  official  rank. 
Colonel  George  Handy,  who  subsequently  became  an  honored 
Elder  of  the  Manokin  Church,  was  on  the  staff  of  the  famous 
Light-horse  Harry  Lee,  father  of  General  Eobert  E.  Lee.  Those 
who  fought  were  supported  and  encouraged  by  those  who  re- 
mained at  home.  In  speaking  of  the  pastorate  of  the  Eev.  Mr. 
Ker,  Dr.  A.  C.  Heaton  says:  "^'Tradition  has  it  that  both  pastor 
and  people  espoused  warmly  the  cause  of  the  colonies,  and  that 
on  the  Sabbath,  both  went  to  the  sanctuary  clad  in  the  popular 
costume,  fustian,  and  unitedly  lifted  up  their  prayers  for  the 
blessing  of  God  upon  their  cause." 

From  the  days  of  the  Eevohition,  many  of  the  most  talented 
and  influential  men  of  Maryland  have  been  associated  with  the 
Manokin  and  other  Makemie  churches. 

The  church  has  been  always  most  intimately  and  helpfully 
connected  with  the  best  interests  of  the  community,  and  has 
contributed  materially  to  the  intellectual,  social  and  spiritual 
betterment  of  the  people.  Princess  Anne  is  an  attractive  social 
centre,  with  a  well-deserved  standing  for  unaffected  culture  and 
refinement;  and  within  its  borders  and  surrounding  neighbor- 
hood have  lived,  in  homes  of  comfort  and  affluence,  many  distin- 
guished and  cultured  families  which  have  freely  dispensed  the 
most  gracious  and  charming  hospitality.* 

The  writer  of  this  history  was  not  so  fortunate  as  to  be  a 
member  of  the  Manokin  fold,  as  he  was  born,  and  lived  until 
early  manhood,  in  a  distant  part  of  the  county,  yet  because  of 
the  loyal  devotion  of  some  of  his  people  to  the  church,  it  has 

*  In  this  connection,  it  will  be  interesting  to  read  what  Dr.  Van 
Rensselaer  writes  about  the  hospitality  of  Princess  Anne;  and  what 
Rev.  Mr.  Robinson  says  about  the  church  and  its  people.  These  two 
references  may  be  found  in  the  chapter,  entitled.  "Pastors  and  Stated 
Supplies." 


Introduction.  1> 

always  been  dear  to  hiin  ;  and  because  they  loved  it,  and  because 
of  what  the  church  has  stood  for  throughout  the  years,  he  has 
found  pleasure  in  preparing  tiiis  brief  stoiy  of  its  usefuhiess. 

We  are  proud  of  the  Eastern  Shore,  with  its  noble  records 
of  the  past ;  of  Somerset  County,  which  has  contributed  so  mucli 
to  the  best  interests  of  our  land ;  and  especially  of  the  dear  old 
church,  which  has  always  steadfastly  stood  for  right  culture, 
godliness,  and  sound  spiritual  doctrine.  May  its  blessed  influ- 
ence ever  abide !  H.  P.  Ford. 

Witherspoon  Building,  Philadelphia,  Pa., 
September,  WW. 


Pastors  and  Stated  Supplies.  11 


PASTORS  A^D  STATED  SUPPLIES. 


With  a  spiritual  ancestry  drawn  from  vien  and  loomen  of  heroic 
blood,  with  a  Church  history  associated  with  many  of  the  most  inter- 
esting eras  and  incidents  in  the  a/nnals  of  the  human  race,  we  should 
he  unworthy  of  our  high  descent  were  we  to  let  the  records  of  the  past 
die  away  from  our  memories. — Rev.  Henry  C.  McCook,  D.  D. 


So  many  tender  memories  cluster  about  the  majority  of  our 
old  churches,  that  it  does  not  seem  right  to  let  the  story  of  their 
usefulness  and  the  names  of  those  who  were  once  prominently 
associated  with  the  work,  be  forgotten ;  yet  such  is  all  too  fre- 
quently the  case.  We  are,  as  a  rule,  apt  to  be  indifferent  to  the 
past,  and  comparatively  little  effort  is  made  to  preserve  the 
records  of  the  days  of  old. 

Much  that  M'ould  be  most  interesting  in  the  history  of  the 
Manokin  Church  is  now  lost  beyond  recall;  by-gone  years 
relentlessly  hold  the  secret  of  its  beginnings:  but  we  are  grateful 
that,  even  at  this  late  day,  much  can  be  gathered  and  recorded 
that  should  be  preserved. 

Somerset  County,  Maryland,  was  organized  in  1666,  and 
contained  within  its  bounds  what  are  now  known  as  Worcester 
and  Wicomico  counties.  Tt  was  here  that  American  Presby- 
terianism  had  one  of  its  most  important  beginnings — which 
culminated,  in  1706,  in  the  organization,  in  Philadelphia,  of  the 
first  Presbytery,  which  was,  as  Dr.  William  Heni-y  Roberts  is 
careful  to  emphasize,  "the  first  ecclesiastical  organization  in 
America  free  from  European  control." 

Even  as  early  as  1666,  many  settlers  had  made  their  homes 
along  the  many  winding  creeks  and  rivers  of  the  southern  por- 
tion of  the  Eastern  Shore  of  Maryland  and  Virginia.  Many 
of  these  "were  Calvinists  in  faith  and  believed  in  the  government 
of  the  congregation  by  Elders."     It  is  knoAvn  that  in  1672  there 


12  History  of  the  Manokin  Presbyterian  Church. 

were  several  places  of  worship  in  Somerset  County,  and  one  of 
these,  according  to  Dr.  John  S.  Howk,  in  "Rehoboth  by  the 
River,"  was  "a^  the  house  of  Christopher  Nutter,  at  Manokin." 
Rev.  Robert  Maddux  was  the  preacher;  and  Dr.  Howk  says: 
"We  have  good  ground  for  claiming  Robert  Maddux  as  a 
Presbyterian." 

In  his  "History  of  the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia  and 
Philadelphia  Central,"  page  45,  Dr.  Alfred  Xevin  writes:  "The 
Presbyterians  had  their  meeting  houses  in  Snow  Hill,  Pitts 
Creek,  Wicomico,  Manokin  and  Rehoboth,  as  early  as  1680." 

The  Rev.  Thomas  Wilson,  whose  name  does  not  appear  in 
the  "Index  of  Presbyterian  Ministers,  1706-1881,"  as  he  labored 
before  the  organization  of  our  first  Presbytery  in  1706,  was, 
"according  to  records  of  sister  churches,"  the  Pastor  of  the 
Manokin  Church  from  1686  to  1698.  It  is  known  that  Ephraim 
Wilson,  Sheriff  of  Somerset  County  in  1693,  was  a  Presbyterian. 
He  was  the  ancestor  of  some  of  the  most  prominent  families  of 
the  country.  His  granddaughter,  Esther,  became  the  wife  of 
the  Rev.  Jacob  Ker. 

Dr.  Mcllvain  says,  in  "Early  Presbyterianism  in  Maryland," 
"There  can  be  little  doubt  that  he  was  the  Thomas  Wilson, 
Pastor  at  Killybegs,  County  Donegal,  Ireland,  where  the  poor 
man  was  nearly  starved  to  death  on  twelve  pounds  a  year.  Still 
less  doubt  can  there  be,  that  he  is  the  Thomas  Wilson  to  whom 
Colonel  William  Stevens,  on  May  20th,  1681,  assigns  'a  parcel 
of  land  called  Darby,  containing  350  acres.' " — Land  Records, 
Annapolis,  Liter  21,  p.  31  Jf. 

Dr.  Mcllvain  adds  this  interesting  information:  "He  seems 
to  have  been  the  first  'godly  minister'  who  accepted  Stevens' 
invitation  to  come  to  America.  To  him,  then,  we  owe  the 
founding  of  the  first  of  the  famous  Somerset  County  churches. 
His  career  in  Maryland  is  unknown  to  us  outside  of  the  record 
books.  Until  very  recently,  his  presence  in  the  county  was 
unknown.     He  was  the  first  Pastor  of  the  church  at  Manokin, 


Pasti'Vs  and  Slated  Supplies.  X'-i 

now  Princess  Anne.  He  appears  as  its  Pastor  in  several  docu- 
ments, such  as  the  will  of  John  Galbraith,  1691."  A  copy  of 
this  will  is  found  on  page  205,  "The  Days  of  Makemie,"  by  Dr. 
L.  P.  Bowen.  The  bequest  in  tlie  will  referred  to  is:  "I  give 
and  bequeath  unto  Mr.  Thomas  Wilson,  Minister  of  the  Gospel 
at  Manokin,  five  thousand  pounds  of  pork,  convenient  to  him  or 
his  order  within  twelve  months  after  my  decease."  Mr.  Gal- 
braith left  a  similar  bequest  of  five  thousand  pounds  of  pork  to 
"Mr.  Samuel  Davis,  Minister  at  Snow  Hill,"  and  also  to  "Mr. 
Francis  Makemie,  Minister  of  the  Gospel  at  Rehoboth  To\vn." 

There  are  those  who  believe  the  Manokin  Church  to  have 
been  organizd  by  Francis  Makemie  in  1681-83  (see  Dr.  Heaton's 
Historical  Sermon,  first  paragraph)  ;  although  the  evidence 
seems  to  be  very  clear  that  a  church  was  here  before  lie  came  to 
America.     ]\Iakemie  returned  to  Europe  for  a  brief  visit  in  1704. 

In  1684,  William  Traill  and  Samuel  Davis  were  in  Somerset 
County.  Traill  seems  to  have  been  a  man  of  much  prominence. 
Robert  Traill,  his  father,  was  a  Scotch  clergyman.  The  son  was 
born  in  1640,  and  came  to  America  in  1682,  after  having  been 
Moderator  of  the  Irish  Presbytery  of  Laggan.  Briggs  says:  "It 
is  likely  that  he  went  to  the  Eastern  Shore  of  Maryland,  whence 
Colonel  Stevens  wrote  to  his  Presbytery  for  a  minister." 

A  marriage  celebrated  by  Samuel  Davis  on  the  26th  of 
February,  1684^  is  recorded  in  the  Somerset  County  records. 
He  appears  to  have  labored  in  Snow  Hill  from  1686  to  1698 — 
the  exact  period  that  the  Rev.  Thomas  Wilson  labored  in  the 
Manokin  Church.  Mcllvain  says:  "His  name  appears  as  one 
of  the  three  ministers  set  apart  to  form  the  Presbytery  of  Snow 
Hill  in  1716."  Messrs.  John  Hampton  and  John  Henry  were 
the  other  two.  (Minutes  of  the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia, 
1716,  page  46.)  In  1719  he  assisted  in  "setting  apart"  Rev. 
William  Stewart  for  the  Gospel  ministry  in  the  Manokin  Church. 
This  service  was  held  at  Rehoboth  (Minutes  of  the  Synod  of 
Philadelphia,  1719,  p.  55).     Mr.  Davis  died  1724-5. 


14  History  of  the  Manohiu  Presbyterian  Church. 

Sheriff  Whittingham,  of  Somerset  County,  reported  in  1687, 
to  Governor  Nicholson's  request  "that  the  Sheriffs  of  tliis  Pro- 
vince return  a  list  of ....  churches,  chappies  or  places  of  wor- 
ship" in  the  county,  that  there  are  three  dissenting  meeting- 
houses in  Somerset — "one  in  Snow  Hill,  one  on  the  road  going 
up  along  the  seaside,  and  one  at  Manokin,  about  tliirty  feet  long, 
plain  country  buildings.''  (Dr.  McTlvain  gives  as  liis  authority 
for  this  statement,  "The  Eolls  Otfice,  London,  Maryland  Docu- 
ments, 111,  B.  39.") 

Francis  Makemie  returned  from  Ireland  in  1705,  bringing 
with  him  John  Hampton  and  George  McNish.  In  November  of 
that  year,  Makemie  waited  upon  the  Somerset  County  Court,  and 
requested  that  these  ministers  might  be  qualified  to  serve  "the 
four  meeting-houses"  in  Somerset,  of  which  Manokin  was  one. 
"The  business  was  long  delayed,"  says  Webster  in  his  "History 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  America,"  "but  at  last,  Governor 
Seymour  issued  liis  order,  and  McNish  and  Hampton  presented 
it  to  the  Court  and  were  qualified  June  12th,  1706,  to  preach 
att  the  meeting-house  near  Mr.  Edgar's,  the  meeting-house  att 
the  head  of  Manokin,  the  meeting-house  att  Snow  Hill,  and  the 
meeting-house  on  Mr.  Joseph  Venable's  land.  Captain  Venable 
was  at  that  time  one  of  the  Justices  on  the  Bench ;  his  residence 
was  on  the  Wicomico." 

The  first  mention  of  the  Manokin  Church  in  the  official 
records  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  is  in  the  Minutes  of  the 
Presbytery  which  met  in  Philadelphia  in  May,  1708.  Mr.  George 
McNish  attended  this  meeting.  The  record  is,  "Ordered  that 
Mr.  Taylor  write  to  the  people  of  Manokin  and  Wicomico,  excit- 
ing them  to  their  duty  to  pay  what  they  promise  to  Mr.  McNish." 

On  the  Minutes  of  the  Presbytery  for  May  11th,  1709,  is 
the  following:  "A  letter  from  the  people  of  Manokin  and 
Wicomico  read  and  considered.  A  call  also  sent  from  them  to 
Mr.  McNish,  was  not  accepted  by  him."     From  the  Minutes  of 


Pastors  and  Stated  Supplies.  15 

the  following  year,  we  learn  that  "Mr.  McNish  agreed  to  go  down 
some  time  before  winter  to  Manokin."' 

At  the  direction  of  Presbytery,  Mr.  McNish  took  part  in 
the  "inauguration"  of  Mr.  John  Hampton  over  the  Snow  Hill 
Church  in  1708.  He  himself  was  never  installed  Pastor  over 
the  Manokin  Church,  although  he  labored  there  several  years. 

"As  late  as  1711/'  according  to  Dr.  Mellvain,  "Kev.  Alex- 
ander Adams  writes  to  the  Bishop  of  I;ondon,  that  he  is  the  only 
clerg}^man  of  the  Church  of  England  in  Somerset  County,  and 
very  poorly  paid,  while  the  Presbyterian  churches  are  carefully 
supplied." 

Rev.  Thom\s  Brattox. 

In  the  Minutes  of  Presbytery,  meeting  in  Philadelphia, 
September  17th,  1712,  we  find  that  "Mr.  Robert  Wilson,  being 
commissioned,  did  present  a  letter  from  the  people  of  Manokin 
and  Wicomico,  relating  to  their  church  affairs,  in  answer  to  a 
letter  sent  to  them  last  year;  and  also  a  call  to  the  Rev.  Thomas 
Bratton,  with  a  paper  of  subscription  for  his  encouragement. 
And  it  is  ordered  that  a  letter  be  writ  to  the  said  Mr.  Thomas 
Bratton,  with  respect  to  the  said  call,  in  favor  of  the  people." 
Thomas  Bratton  came  to  Maryland  in  1711.  Evidently  he  vis- 
ited the  field  and  preached  to  the  people  of  Manokin,  but  his 
earthly  labors  were  soon  over.  He  died  in  October,  1712,  shortly 
after  the  meeting  of  Presbytery  referred  to  al)ove. 

Rev.  Robert  Lawson. 
"A  call  from  the  people  of  Manokin  and  Wicomico  to  Robert 
Lawson  was  presented  to  the  Presbytery  by  James  Caldwell, 
which,  being  offered  to  Mr.  Lawson  by  the  Moderator,  he  took 
it  into  consideration,  with  promise  to  give  the  people  an  answer 
as  soon  as  the  circumstances  of  his  affairs  would  allow."  (From 
Minutes  of  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia,  1713.)  Mr.  Lawson  was 
a  member  of  the  Dumfries  Presbytery,  Scotland,  in  1696.  On 
the  early  death  of  Bratton,  he  came  to  this  countr}'  to  supply 


16  History  of  tlie  ManoMn  Presbyterian  Church. 

his  place ;  but,  alas !  he,  too,  was  destined  to  an  early  grave. 
He  died  in  November,  1713. 

Eev.  William  Stewart. 
The  Eev.  William  Stewart  (also  written  Steward)  was  re- 
ceived by  the  Synod  of  Philadelphia,  "from  Britain,"  in  1718. 
Immediately  following  his  reception,  a  call  was  presented 
to  him  "from  Manokin  and  Wicomico."  It  was  reported  to  the 
Synod  of  Philadelphia,  which  met  in  September,  1719,  thai  he 
had  been  "solemnly  set  apart  to  the  work  of  the  ministry  in 
June,  1719,  at  Rehoboth,  Somerset  County."  He  was  the  Pastor 
at  Manokin  until  his  death.  According  to  the  Minutes  of  the 
Synod  of  Philadelphia,  1735,  p.  112,  Mr.  Stewart  died  in  1734-5. 

Erv.  Patrick  Glasgow. 
In  1736,  the  Eev.  Patrick  Glascow  was  ordained  and 
installed  Pastor  over  the  Manokin  Church,  and  continued  in  that 
relation  until  1741,  when  his  name  last  appears  on  the  Minutes 
of  the  Synod  of  Philadelphia.  It  is  stated  that  he  became  the 
Eector  of  All-Hallows  P.  E.  Church  in  Worcester  County,  and 
that  he  died  in  Snow  Hill,  March  23d,  1753. 

Eev.  William  Eobinson. 

William  Robinson,  the  famous  revivalist,  visited  the  county, 

and  we  are  iuformed  that  "in  1745,  a  most  glorious  display  of 

grace  began  by  his  ministiy  in  Wicomico,  in  Somerset  County, 

Maryland."     Again  we  are  informed    that    when    Davies    was 

laboring   with    Eobinson,   "the    revival   was   great   in 

Somerset  County."  \i\  1747,  Ceorge  Whitefield  visited  the 
county,  and  prefaced  his  coming  by  writing,  "I  purpose,  God 
willing,  to  do  a  three  weeks'  circuit  in  hunting  for  Maryland 
sinners."  Evidently  they  were  not  difficult  to  find,  for  later  we 
read,  "Maryland  is  yielding  converts  to  the  blessed  Gospel." 


Pastors  and  Stated  Supplies.  17 

Eev.  Charles  Tennant. 

In  a  brief  manuscript  history  of  the  Manokin  Church,  Coh 
Levin  Handy  wrote :  "In  the  Somerset  County  Court  records 
of  1747  is  the  followincr: 

"September  23d,  1747.  Whereas,  Mr.  Charles  Tennant,  a 
Presbyterian  minister,  personally  present  here  in  His  I-iordship's, 
the  Right  Honorable  the  liord  Proprietary  of  Maryland,  County 
Court  of  Somerset  County,  then  and  there,  before  His  Lordship's 
Justice  in  Court,  judicially  sitting,  did  take  the  oath  appointed 
by  the  Act  of  Parliament,  made  the  1st  year  of  King  William 
and  Mary,  and  repeated  the  declaration  directed  by  the  Act  of 
Parliament  made  the  31st  year  of  King  Charles  II,  and  sub- 
scribed the  same,  and  declared  his  approbation  of  the  Articles  of 
Faith  of  the  Church  of  England,  and  subscribed  the  same,  ex- 
cept those  articles,  and  part  of  an  article,  that  is  disallowed  by 
all  such  dissenting  ministers." 

"At  the  same  time,"  continues  Mr.  Handy,  "Tennant  left 
the  following  minute  with  the  clerk : 

"Sir :  I  desire  that  you  will  register  the  several  places  within 
mentioned,  for  public  service  and  preaching  of  the  Gospel  of 
Jesus  Christ.  The  places  are  as  follows :  at  the  meeting-house 
at  Rockawakin,  at  the  head  of  the  Wicomico ;  at  the  meeting- 
house at  Oliphant's:  at  P>road  Creek  Bridge;  at  the  dwelling  of 
Joshua  Caldwell:  at  Wilson  Rider's;  and  also  at  the  house  of 
James  Polk,  Princess  Anne  town,  at  his  lot  Xo.  2." 

Mr.  Handy  adds:  "Mr.  Polk's  house  on  lot  Xo.  2  was  at 
the  south-east  corner  of  Main  and  Water  Streets  in  Princess 
Anne."     Tennant  became  Pastor  of  the   Buckingham   Church. 

Rev.  John  Hamiltox. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Synod  of  Philadelphia  in  1745,  John 

Hamilton   (also  written  Hambleton,  and    thus   written    in  the 

Manokin  Session  book),  was  examined  and  approved,  and  wa< 

ordained  by  the  Newcastle  Presbytery  in  174G  as  Pastor  of  the 


18  History  of  the  Manohin  Preshyterian  Clmrcli. 

Manokin  Church.  Pfe  continued  to  he  the  Pastor  of  the  churcli 
certainly  until  1753,  when  his  name  last  appears  on  the  Sessional 
records  (after  which  there  is  no  record  of  a  Session  meeting  until 
1758)  ;  hut,  far  more  prohably,  until  1755,  when  his  name  last 
appears  in  the  Minutes  of  the  Synod  of  Philadelphia  as  a  member 
of  the  Newcastle  Presbyter)\ 

Eev.  John  Eeskine  and  Eev.  John  Harris. 
The    Manokin    Church    was   without    a    Pastor  for  a  time. 
During  the  interval,  the  Eev.  John  Erskine  and  the  Eev.  John 
Harris  preached  occasionally. 

Eev.  Hugh  Henry. 

The  Eev.  Hugh  Henry  graduated  from  Princeton  in  1748. 
He  was  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  Newcastle  Pastor  of  Eeho- 
both,  Wicomico  and  Manokin  in  1758.  He  died  in  1762-3. 
(Minutes  of  the  Synod  of  New  York  and  Philadelphia,  1763, 
p.  322.) 

The  Eev.  J.  T.  H.  Waite,  who  was  the  Pastor  of  the  Salis- 
bury Presbyterian  Church,  the  direct  successor  of  the  old 
Wicomico  Church,  from  January,  1856,  to  May,  1867,  prepared, 
in  186],  an  "Historical  Sketch  of  Wicomico  Church,"  which  is 
copied  in  the  Session  hook  now  in  the  possession  of  the  Salisbury, 
Maryland  Church.     Tn  this  sketch,  he  says : 

"In  1 762,  the  Session  gives  the  first  intimation  of  the  death 
of  the  Eev.  Hugh  Henry,  in  overturing  the  Session  of  Manokin 
to  unite  in  a  call  to  another  minister.  Whereupon  a  year  of 
discussion  ensued  between  Wicomico,  Manokin  and  Eehoboth, 
as  to  what  part  of  the  new  minister's  time  each  should  have, 
which  resulted  in  Eehoboth  being  cast  off  from  this  connection, 
showing  that  the  other  two  congregations  were  strong  enough 
to  sustain  a  Pastor  between  them,  each  one  paying  him  sixty 
pounds." 


Pastors  and  Stated  Supplies.  19 

Bey.  Jacob  Ker. 
Tlie  Eev.  Jacob  Ker  was  one  of  tlie  ablest  pastors  tliat  tbe 
church  ever  had^  and  his  ministry  extended  over  a  period  of 
thirty-one  years.  Tlie  call  extended  to  him  (see  "Interesting 
Events,"  1764)  was  a  very  flattering  one.  He  was  installed  in 
Princess  Anne  in  November,  17(51.  Kevs.  John  Harris  and  John 
Miller  officiated.  He  continued  in  this  pastorate  until  his  death 
on  the  29th  of  July,  179.^.  Mrs.  Anne  Holden,  daughter  of 
Francis  Makemie,  left  hira,  in  her  will,  the  sum  of  twenty 
pounds.  He  was  a  pronounced  patriot,  as  were  also  the  members 
of  his  flock,  after  the  manner  of  all  Presbyterians  of  that  history- 
making  period.  His  son,  Samuel,  became  a  widely  known  physi- 
cian, and  served  the  church  as  an  Elder  from  1796  to  1818,  when 
he  removed  to  Snow  Hill:  returning  to  Princess  Anne,  he  again 
became  a  member  of  the  Session  in  1830,  and  served  until  his 
death  in  1851. 

Rev.  John  Collins. 
The  Rev.  John  Collins  served  the  church  as  stated  supply 
for  a  short  time  in  1796.     He  declined  a  call  to  the  pastorate. 

Rev.  John  Brown  Slemons. 

On  the  15th  of  April,  1799,  the  following  call  was  extended 
to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Slemons : 

"The  united  congregations  of  Manokin  and  Wicomico, 
being,  on  sufficient  grounds,  well  satisfied  of  the  ministerial 
qualifications  of  you,  the  Rev'd  John  B.  Slemons,  and  having 
good  hopes  from  our  past  experience  of  your  labors,  that  your 
ministrations  in  the  Gospel  will  be  profitable  to  our  spiritual 
interests,  do  earnestly  call  and  desire  3'ou  to  undertake  the  pas- 
toral office  in  said  congregations;  promising  you,  in  the  discharge 
of  your  duty,  al!  proper  support,  encouragement  and  obedience 
in  the  Lord.  Aiid  that  you  may  be  free  from  all  worldly  cares 
and  avocations,  we  hereby  promise  and  oblige  ourselves  to  pay 


20  History  of  the  Mannhin  Presbyterian  Church. 

you  the  sum  of  one  hundred  and  eighty  pounds,  in  regular  annual 
payments  during  the  time  of  your  being,  and  continuing,  the 
regular  Pastor  of  these  churches." 

This  call  was  signed  by  eight  Elders  of  the  Manokin 
Church  and  seven  from  the  Wicomico  Church.  Mr.  Slemons 
accepted  the  invitation,  and  was  installed  on  the  27th  of  June, 
1799.  He  resigned  in  June,  1821,  after  a  service  of  twenty-one 
years.  (See  Dr.  Heaton's  sermon.)  He  died  in  1832,  and, 
according  to  the  Handy  manuscript,  "was  buried  in  the  burial 
ground  at  his  son's  farm  on  the  Wicomico  Eiver,  as  he  had 
requested  in  his  last  will.  He  left  an  epitaph,  which  is  inscribed 
on  his  tombstone." 

The  wives  of  Dr.  Charles  W.  Wainwright  and  Mr.  W.  0. 
Lankford,  present  Elders  of  the  Manokin  Church,  are  the  great 
grand-daughters  of  Mr.  Slemons.  Dr.  Lewis  W.  Morris,  of 
Salisbur}'^,  is  also  a  great  grandson  of  Mr.  Slemons. 

Rev.  Hentrt  Blatchfoed. 
In  Irving  Spence's  "Early  History  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,"  pp.  106-111,  is  a  tender  and  touching  tribute  to  the 
memory  of  this  gifted  young  minister,  who  in  his  short  pastorate 
of  only  a  few  months  won  the  sincere  affection  of  his  people. 
He  was  bom  in  Devonshire,  England,  in  1788,  and  came  to 
America  in  1795.  He  had  the  honor  of  being  a  member  of  the 
first  class  to  matriculate  in  Princeton  Theological  Seminary. 
In  June,  1822,  he  accepted  an  invitation  to  take  charge  of  the 
churches  at  "Snow  Hill,  Pitts  Creek,  Eehoboth  and  Manokin," 
and  entered  at  once  upon  the  work,  in  which  he  was  not  destined 
long  to  continue.  He  preached  in  Snow  Hill  on  the  25th  of 
August,  1822,  and  died  in  Princess  Anne,  less  than  two  weeks 
later — Saturday,  September  7th.  Spence  says,  in  part,  of  the 
funeral  service  which  took  place  the  following  day:  "You  know 
I  have  visited  Princess  Anne  very  many  times,  in  fact,  have  spent 


Pastors  and  Stated  Supplies.  21 

much  time  there;  but  never  did  I  see  that  village  so  quiet  on 
any  day  as  on  that  one — it  was  Sabbath  stillness  indeed.  The 
people  of  the  place  of  all  classes  were  not  only  grave,  but  seemed 
awed,  and  their  sensibilities  were  certainly  tenderly  alive. 
Princess  Anne  certainly  never  looked  so  lovely.  The  funeral 
services  were  performed  in  the  church,  and  at  the  grave.  In  the 
absence  of  a  Presbyterian  minister,  an  Episcopal  clergyman 
preached  a  sermon  on  the  occasion.  He  was  assisted  in  the 
other  services  by  two  brethren  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
I  have  been  in  many  worshipping  assemblies,  but  that  certainly 
was  one  of  the  most  solemn  and  tender  congregations  of  which 
I  ever  made  a  part." 

The  four  congregations  to  which  he  had  ministered  placed 
a  neat  white  marble  slab  over  his  grave  in  the  Manokin  church- 
3fard.  A  rum-crazed  man  went  into  tbe  yard  one  night  and 
broke  the  slab  in  many  places.  In  1905,  the  stone  was  replaced 
by  ]\rrs.  E.  C.  Scudder,  of  East  Lexington,  Mass.,  a  daughter  of 
Mr.  Blatchford.     It  bears  this  inscription : 

In  memory  of  the  Reverend  Henry  Blatchford,  A.  M.,  the  eldest 
son  of  the  Reverend  Samuel  Blatchford,  D.  D.,  of  Lansingburg,  N.  Y. 
He  died  September  7th,  1822,  in  the  thirty- fotirth  year  of  his  age.  As 
a  son,  a  brother,  a  husband  and  a  father,  his  virtues  were  eminently 
conspicuous.  As  a  Christian  and  a  minister,  he  was  distinguished 
for  his  humility,  his  piety  and  his  zeal.  All  who  knew  him  loved  him. 
He  was  removed  in  the  midst  of  his  labors  in  this  vicinity,  from  the 
work  of  the  vineyard  to  tlie  rewards  of  the  blessed,  and  as  a  pledge  of 
tender  Christian  regard,  this  tomb  is  placed  over  his  remains  by  the 
congregations  of  Manokin,  Rehoboth,  Pitts  Creek  and  Snow  Hill. 

The  above  was  the  original  inscription,  to  which  has  been 
added : 

The  erection  of  this  memorial  stone  in  1905  is  a  restoration  of 
the  original  stone  erected  soon  after  Mr.  Blatchford's  death,  which,  in 
the  meantime,  had  become  seriously  injured  and  broken. 


23  History  of  the  ManoJcin  Presbyterian  Church. 

Eev.  William  Campbell  Kidd. 

The  Eev.  William  Campbell  Kidd,  Principal  of  the  Wash- 
ington Academy,  supplied  the  pulpit  during  the  winter  of  1823-3. 
In  1823,  he  attended  the  meeting  of  the  General  Assembly  in 
Philadelphia.  Tlie  Handy  manuscript  relates  that,  while  there, 
"he  was  invited  by  Dr.  James  P.  Wilson  to  preach  in  his  church. 
Poor  man !  he  failed  to  perform  his  promise  to  Dr.  Wilson.  He 
remained  absent  from  Princess  Anne  tliree  or  four  months,  but 
did  come  back  to  get  from  the  Trustees  of  the  Academy  the 
balance  of  his  salary  due  him." 

Eev.  Egbert  McMoedie  Laird. 

The  Eev.  Eobert  M.  Laird  supplied  the  pulpit  between 
October,  1824,  and  July,  1825.  He  declined,  however,  to  accept 
a  call,  much  to  the  disappointment  of  the  people,  with  whom  he 
became  very  popular. 

Eev.  Joshua  Moore. 

In  the  spring  of  1826,  a  call  was  extended  to  the  Eev. 
Joshua  Moore.  He  came  to  Princess  Anne  in  April  of  that  year 
and  was  installed  Pastor  over  the  church  in  June.  This 
pastoral  relation  was  dissolved  in  September,  1828. 

In  the  "Historical  Sketch  of  Wicomico  Church,"  by  Eev. 
Mr  Waite,  there  is  the  following  interesting  note.  In  all  proba- 
bility the  same  conditions  prevailed  in  the  Manokin  Church : 

"In  1827,  it  appears  that  the  first  stove  was  set  up  in  the 
Wicomico  meeting-house:  and  tradition  says  that  the  older  gen- 
erations of  the  church  sat  during  a  hundred  winters  quietly  and 
reverently  under  the  ver}'^  long  prayers  and  the  much  longer 
sermons  of  those  brave  old  days ;  and,  after  eating  a  cold  dinner 
in  the  cold,  resumed  their  seats  for  another  two  hours'  service." 


*"  Pastors  and  Stated  Supplies.  23 

Eev.  EortERT  McMoKDiE  Laird. 
In  November,  1828,  the  Eev.  Eobert  M.  Laird,  who  had 
supplied  the  pulpit  in  1824-5,  was  elected  Principal  of  the  Wash- 
ington Academy,  Princess  Anne,  and  in  December  became  the 
stated  supply  of  the  church,  although  the  congregation  would 
gladly  have  had  him  become  tlie  Pastor.  This  relation  continued 
until  July,  1835,  when  his  dual  duties  proved  more  than  he 
could  perform,  and  he  was  compelled,  on  account  of  his  impaired 
health,  to  remove  to  a  more  congenial  clime.  (See  Dr.  Heaton's 
sermon.)     Mr.  Laird  died  in  1835. 

Eev.  Enoch  ThoMx\s. 
The  Eev.  Enoch  Thomas  was  the  pulpit  supply  during  the 
Avinter  of  1835-6.     He  died  shortly  afterwards. 

Eev.  James  W.  Stewart. 
The  Eev.  James  W.  Stewart  served  as  stated  supply  for  a 
brief  period,  but  left  the  field  about  the  first  of  July,  1837,  hav- 
ing declined  a  call. 

Eev.  Ferdinand  Jacobs. 

The  Eev.  Ferdinand  Jacobs  became  the  Principal  of  the 
Washington  Academy,  and  occasionally  supplied  the  pulpit.  On 
the  10th  of  June,  1837,  he  was  called  to  the  pastorate,  at  a  salary 
of  $600.00  per  year,  the  Manokin  Church  to  pay  $360.00,  and 
the  Wicomico  Church  to  pay  $240.00.  Tie  accepted  the  call  and 
was  installed  December  23d,  1837.  Tie  remained  in  charge  of 
the  church  until  November,  1841,  when  he  went  to  ISTorth 
Carolina. 

In  a  letter  to  Eobert  Patterson,  one  of  the  Manokin  Elders, 
Mr.  Jacobs  thus  writes  from  Georgia  in  1847: 

"You  tell  me  that  Wasliington  Academy  is  declining.  1 
cannot  but  regret  it,  both  because  of  the  loss  to  your  community, 


24  History  of  the  ManoTcin  Presbyterian  Church. 

which  its  declension  involves,  and  of  personal  attachment  even 
to  the  name  itself  of  Washington  Academy,  originating  in  my 
connection  with  it  in  'auld  lang  syne.'  To  what  use,  if  any,  is 
the  old  building  appropriated?  Sadness  would,  indeed,  be 
mingled  with  the  pleasure  I  would  enjoy  in  a  visit  to  Somerset. 
I  have  a  great  desire  to  meet  the  congregation  once  more  and 
to  preach  to  them  at  least  once  again  in  the  'meeting-house  at 
the  head  of  Manokin.' " 

Old  and  Nev^  School. 
On  the  9th  of  April,  1839,  a  joint  meeting  of  the  Sessions 
of  Princess  Anne  and  Wicomico  churches  was  held  at  the  former 
place,  and  resolutions  in  relation  to  the  Old  and  New  Schools 
were  adopted,  declaring  the  adherence  of  the  Sessions  to  the  Old 
School  doctrines.  These  congregations  were  then  detached  by 
the  Synod  of  Philadelphia  and  were  connected  with  the  Baltimore 
Presbytery,  Old  School. 

Dr.  Cortlandt  Vam  Eensselabr. 

Although  not  directly  connected  with  the  history  of  the 
Manokin  Church,  yet  the  following  description  of  a  visit  made 
to  Princess  Anne  and  Eehoboth  by  Dr.  Van  Eensselaer  in  1841, 
and  which  appears  on  page  222  of  The  Presbyterian  Magazine 
for  May,  1859,  will  be  read  with  interest : 

"It  fell  to  the  lot  of  the  Editor  of  this  magazine  to  reopen 
the  old  Eehoboth  Church  for  the  worship  of  God,  by  direction  of 
the  Presbytery  of  Baltimore. 

''The  appointment  for  the  reopening  of  Eehoboth  was  made 
for  the  Sabbath,  November  22d,  1841.  I  reached  Princess  Anne 
on  Saturday  night,  to  fulfil  the  appointment,  and  was  hospitably 
entertained  at  the  mansion  of  the  late  General  George  Handy. 

"On  the  following  morning,  the  dear  General  accompanied 
me  in  his  carriage  to  Eehoboth,  about  fifteen  miles,  having  as  a 


Pastors  and  Stated  Supplies.  25 

travelling  companion  one  of  those  intelligent,  beautiful,  accom- 
plished and  thoroughly  Presbyterian  young  ladies,  which  no  part 
of  our  country,  more  than  the  South,  is  privileged  to  send  forth 
into  life  to  glorify  God. 

"A  large  congregation  was  gathered  at  Rehoboth.  The 
people  had  assembled  in  carriages,  on  horseback  and  on  foot,  far 
and  near,  to  share  in  the  services  of  God  in  the  old  meeting-house. 

"We  dined  at  the  house  of  General  Henry  (close  by  the 
church),  a  lineal  descendant  of  the  Rev.  John  Henry,  who  was 
Makemie's  successor  at  Rehoboth.  I  was  shown  a  manuscript 
volume  of  the  Rev.  John  Henrj^'s  writings,  which,  if  still  in 
existence,  ought  to  be  in  the  librar}'^  of  the  Presbyterian  Histori- 
cal Society." 

On  pages  223-5  of  the  same  magazine  is  a  full  outline  of  the 
sermon  preached  on  that  autumn  Sabbath  morning.  It  has 
much  historical  value. 


Rev.  Theodore  William  Simpson. 

At  a  meeting  held  on  the  29th  of  September,  1841,  the  Rev. 
T.  W.  Simpson  received  a  unanimous  call  to  the  pastorate  of  the 
church  at  "a  salary  of  $600.00  and  the  use  of  the  manse  and 
the  lot  adjoining,  commencing  on  the  1st  day  of  December, 
1841."  The  Manokin  Church  was  to  pay  $360.00,  and  the 
Wicomico  Church  $240.00.  He  preached  his  first  sermon  in  the 
Manokin  Church,  December  12th,  1841.  He  was  installed  on 
the  12th  of  June,  1S42,  and  resigned  in  1849.  He  was  the  last 
Pastor  of  the  united  Manokin  and  Wicomico  churches.  The 
union  was  dissolved  August  3d,  1849.  (See  "Interesting 
Events,"  1849.) 

It  is  interesting  to  note  that  the  wife  of  the  present  Pastor, 
Rev.  Lewis  R.  Watson  (1910),  is  the  grand-daughter  of  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Simpson. 


26  History  of  the  Manohin  Presbyterian  Church. 

Eev.  James  L.  Vallandigtt.am,  D.  D. 

Dr.  Vallandigham  preached  his  first  sermon  in  the  Manokin 
Church,  October  21st,  1849,  and  was  installed  Pastor  in  1850. 
In  a  letter  dated  "Princess  Anne,  November  4th,  1853,"  and 
addressed  to  "Messrs.  Eobert  Patterson,  W.  T.  G.  Polk,  J.  G. 
Polk,  I.  D.  Jones  and  J.  H.  Done,  Elders  of  the  Church  of 
Manoken,"  he  wrote  asking  for  a  dissolution  of  the  pastoral 
relation,  and  added,  "Tt  is  with  no  ordinary  emotion  that  I  con- 
template a  separation  from  a  congregation  in  which,  for  four 
years,  I  have  pleasantly  labored ;  from  a  people  to  whom  I  am 
warmly  attached."  He  also  refers  in  this  letter  "to  the  perfect 
harmony  that  has  ever  pervaded  our  counsels  as  a  Session  and 
to  the  friendly  personal  relations  that  have  always  subsisted  be- 
tween us."  Dr.  Vallandigham  resigned  this  charge  to  accept 
a  call  to  the  "Head  of  Christiana  and  White  Clay  Creek 
churches."  The  resignation  was  regretfully  accepted  at  a  con- 
gregational meeting  held  November  14th,  1853. 

In  a  letter  to  the  author  of  this  historjr.  Dr.  Vallandigham 
w'rote,  under  date  of  November  15th,  1901:  "The  marriage  of 
your  father,  Henry  A.  Ford,  to  your  mother,  Elizabeth  Pringle 
Patterson,  was  the  last  ministerial  act  I  performed  as  Pastor  of 
the  Manokin  Church.  The  next  day,  November  30th,  1853,  I 
started  for  Newark,  Delaware,  where  I  have  since  resided."  Dr. 
Vallandigham  died  in  Newark,  April  15tli,  1904. 

In  a  letter  written  to  the  Hon.  William  McKinley,  in  March, 
1896,  before  Mr.  McKinley  became  President,  Dr.  Vallandigham 
said :  "I  was  acquainted  with  three  generations  of  your  ancestors. 
I  went  to  school  with  your  father  when  we  were  boys  together  in 
our  native  town.  Your  grandfather,  James  McKinley,  I  knew 
well.  He  was  an  Elder  in  my  father's  churcli,  and  many  a  fer- 
vent prayer  have  I  heard  from  his  lips.  I  was  well  acquainted 
with  your  great  grandfather,  David  McKinley,  and  went  to  a 
school  which  he  taught  seventy-five  years  ago.     Your  grandfather 


Pastors  and  Stated  Supplies.  27 

and  grandmother  and  your  great  grandfather  and  great  grand- 
mother, were  esteemed  members  of  my  father's  church,  and  warm 
friends  of  the  Pastor  and  his  family.  I  am  pleased  to  learn  that 
the  grace  that  dwelt  in  the  ancestors  dwells  also  in  their  descend- 
ants. I  have  thought  that  these  brief  recollections  of  your 
ancestors,  in  the  calm,  quiet  days  gone  by,  might  be  interesting 
to  you  amid  the  wild  excitements  of  these  stirring  times." 

In  thanking  Dr.  Yallandigham  for  his  "graciously  kind 
letter,"  Mr.  McKinley  said  in  part :  "I  have  read  it  over  several 
times,  and  each  time  there  has  been  an  increasing  flood  of  tender 
reminiscences.  Your  familiar  acquaintance  with  my  ancestors 
inclines  my  heart  to  you  as  to  one  of  my  own  kith  and  kin." 

The  call  to  Dr.  Yallandigham  is,  for  several  reasons,  an 
interesting  one,  and  is  therefore  given  here : 

"The  congregations  of  Manokin  and  Rehoboth,  being  de- 
sirous that  the  Word  of  God  may  be  regularly  preached  in  the 
ancient  churches  to  which  they  belong,  and  being  well  satisfied 
with  the  ministerial  qualifications  of  you,  the  Rev.  James  Laird 
Yallandigham,  and  hoping  from  our  experience  of  your  labors 
and  ministrations  in  the  Gospel  that  you  will  be  profitable  to 
our  spiritual  interests,  do  earnestly  call  and  desire  you  to  under- 
take the  pastoral  office  in  said  congregations. 

"We  promise  you,  in  the  discharge  of  your  duty,  all  proper 
support,  encouragement  and  obedience  in  the  Lord ;  and  we,  the 
congregation  at  Manokin,  promise  and  oblige  ourselves  to  pay 
to  you  for  your  support  during  the  time  of  your  being  and  con- 
tinuing the  regular  Pastor  of  these  churches,  annually  the  sum 
of  three  hundred  and  fifty  dollars;  and  we,  the  congregation  at 
Rehoboth,  promise  and  oblige  ourselves  to  pay  to  you  for  your 
support,  during  the  same  period,  annually  the  sum  of  one  hun- 
dred dollars,  which  shall  be  in  addition  to  the  sum  allowed  you 
by  the  Board  of  Domestic  Missions  for  your  labors  in  the  bounds 
of  the  Rehoboth  congregation.  And  we,  the  congregation  at 
Rehoboth,  further  promise  to  use  our  best  endeavors  to  increase 


28  History  of  the  Manohin  Presbyterian  Church. 

our  contributions  until  our  church  shall  cease  to  be  a  tax  upon 
said  Board.  And  we,  the  congregation  at  Manokin,  further 
agree  that  you  may  occupy  the  dwelling  house  and  lot  belonging 
to  the  congregation,  without  charge. 

"In  testimony  whereof,  we,  the  committee  of  the  church, 
on  behalf  of  the  congregation  of  Manokin,  subscribe  our  names 
this  10th  day  of  February,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  eighteen 
hundred  and  fifty;  and  we,  a  special  committee  of  the  congrega- 
tion of  Eehoboth,  subscribe  our  names  this  17th  day  of  February 
in  the  same  year.." 

The  representatives  of  Manokin  were :  Messrs.  Samuel  Ker, 
Eobert  Patterson,  W.  T.  G.  Polk,  Jos.  G.  Polk,  George  Handy, 
Isaac  Dryden,  Robert  W.  Slemons,  J.  W.  Crisfield,  Isaac  D.  Jones 
and  Samuel  K.  Handy. 

The  Eehoboth  signers  were :  Messrs.  John  Dryden,  Whit- 
tington  Polk,Isaac  Marshall,  Isaac  H.  Dryden,  James  W.  Steven- 
son, Henry  Melbourn,  William  C.  Whittington,  John  E.  Blare, 
George  Harges  (this  name  is  poorly  written),  William  Dryden, 
Isaac  T.  Beauchamp,  James  D.  Adams,  Isaac  Tilghman,  William 
Porter  and  Henry  W.  Matthews. 

Dr.  Vallandigham  wrote  on  this  call:  "Tuesday,  April  2d, 
1850,  the  Presbytery  of  Baltimore,  being  in  session  in  the  Pres- 
byterian Church  of  Princess  Anne,  Somerset  County,  Maiyland, 
this  call  was  put  into  ray  hands  and  I  accepted  it.  On  the  next 
day  I  was  ordained  and  installed.*'  Eev.  Messrs.  E.  C.  Gal- 
breath,  John  M.  P.  Atkinson,  C.  L.  Moore  and  Eev.  Mr.  Hunt- 
ington, took  an  active  part  in  the  service.  Dr.  Vallandigham 
closed  his  endorsement  with  these  words:  "The  Lord  grant  me 
grace  and  strength  to  discharge  the  solemn  and  responsible  duties 
I  have  assumed." 

Eev.  Austin  C.  Heaton,  D.  D. 
Dr.  Heaton  became  Pastor  of  the  Manokin  Church  in  1855, 
and  labored  faithfully  in  that  field  until  1880 — a  quarter  of  a 


Pastors  and  Stated  Supplies.  29 

century.  He  was  born  in  Thetford,  Vermont,  May  28th,  1815, 
and  was  graduated  from  Dartmouth  College  in  1840,  and  later 
from  Princeton  Theological  Seminary.  At  the  beginning  of  his 
pastorate  in  the  Manokin  Church,  "it  was  deemed  important  to 
have  divine  service  there  every  Sabbath,  and  this  course  was 
adopted,  though  it  imposed  upon  him  the  necessity  of  riding  from 
Eehoboth  Church  to  Princess  Anne  during  the  interval  of  the 
morning  and  evening  worship.  This  course  was  continued  only 
three  or  four  years,  and  this  chiefly  for  the  advantage  of  the 
Eehoboth  congregation.  It  was  decided  that  the  permanent 
good  of  the  Manokin  congregation  demanded  the  entire  time 
of  the  Pastor,  and  that  stated  services  should  be  held  in  the 
Manokin  Church  twice  upon  every  Sabbath.  Accordingly,  the 
connection  with  the  Rehoboth  congregation  was  severed."  (P'rom 
Dr.  Heaton's  Twentieth  Anniversary  Sermon.) 

Early  in  the  year  1856,  the  practice  of  systematic  contribu- 
tions to  the  various  Boards  of  the  Church  commenced,  and  in 
proportion  to  its  membership  and  means,  the  congregation  was 
liberal  in  its  offerings. 

During  his  pastorate  in  the  ^Manokin  Church,  Dr.  Heaton 
preached  some  four  thousand  sermons,  officiated  at  three  hun- 
dred and  fifty  funerals,  and  solemnized  two  hundred  marriages. 
He  died  in  Middletown,  Delaware,  December  14th,  1887,  at  the 
age  of  seventy-two.  He  was  a  scholarly  man  of  broad  culture, 
sound  doctrine  and  unusual  ability,  and  was  held  in  the  highest 
esteem.     One  who  knew  him  well  thus  writes: 

"Dr.  Heaton  was  a  man  of  scholarly  parts  and  a  stalwart 
believer  in  the  doctrines  of  his  beloved  Church.  He  was  a  strong 
preacher,  a  genial  friend,  and  a  faithful  worker  in  the  Master's 
cause.  He  expressed  the  wish  that  he  might  pass  away  tran- 
quilly and  in  serene  peace;  and  a  kind  Providence  permitted 
him  thus  to  go.  He  gave  as  his  last  message  to  his  brethren  in 
the  Presbytery  a  charge  to  preach  Christ  in  the  power,  purity 
and  simplicity  of  His  love. 


30  History  of  the  ManolAn  Presbyterian  Church. 

"Dr.  Heaton  was  a  regular  attendant  at  the  meetings  of  the 
Presbytery,  and  was  greatly  beloved  by  his  brethren.  His  lead- 
ing presence  and  forceful  addresses  will  be  much  missed.  He 
has  left  in  his  faithful  work  a  fragrant  memory,  which  will  long 
be  cherished  by  those  who  survive  him." 

The  very  interesting  and  valuable  sermon  of  Dr.  Heaton, 
which  forms  a  chapter  of  this  history,  was  kindly  furnished  by 
his  son  and  daughter,  who  now  reside  in  Philadelphia. 

Eev.  Henry  Vandek  Veer  Voorhees. 
The  Eev.  Mr.  Voorhees  was  descended  from  godly  Dutch 
ancestry,  and  as  a  child  was  remarkably  gifted  and  precocious. 
At  the  age  of  eight,  he  stood  at  the  head  of  his  class  of  one 
hundred  members,  and  frequently  won  prizes  for  advanced 
scholarship.  At  the  age  of  ten,  he  committed  to  memory,  it  is 
said,  the  one  hundred  and  nineteenth  Psalm  in  two  hours.  He 
became  Pastor  of  the  Manokin  Church  in  1881,  and  continued 
in  that  relation  until  the  36th  of  May,  1889,  when  he  tendered 
his  resignation.  He  was  a  preacher  of  earnestness  and  power, 
and  rendered  excellent  service  in  the  Manokin  field,  where  he 
made  many  warm  friends  by  his  tender  and  sympathetic  inter- 
course with  his  people.  He  died  in  the  Eoosevelt  Hospital,  New 
York  City,  October  10th,  1897,  from  an  attack  of  pneumonia, 
after  having  undergone  a  successful  operation.  As  a  tribute  to 
his  memor}^  the  bell  of  the  Manokin  Church  was  tolled  when 
he  was  being  laid  to  rest  in  the  distant  city.  During  his  pas- 
torate in  Princess  Anne,  the  parsonage  was  renovated,  the  chapel 
enlarged,  and  the  tower  fund  begun. 


Eev.  W.  L.  Bailey. 
The  Eev.  W.  L.  Bailey  became  stated  supply  in  September, 
1889,  and  continued  in  that  position  for  several  months. 


Pantors  and  Stated  Supplies.  31 

Eev.  William  H.  Logan. 
On  the  1st  of  Januarj^  1891,  the  Rev.  William  IT.  Logan 
became  the  Pastor  of  the  church,  and  ministered  very  acceptably 
to  the  people  until  his  resignation  in  April,  1!)00.  During  the 
summer  of  1891,  extensive  repairs  were  made  to  the  church, 
entirely  remodelling  it.  The  recess  pulpit  was  built,  the  present 
ceiling  put  in,  the  walls  frescoed,  the  floor  recarpeted,  and  new 
chandelier  and  pulpit  lights  were  added,  the  cellar  excavated, 
a  furnace  installed,  and  the  house  painted.  The  expense  was 
$1,500.00.  When  Mr.  Logan  went  to  the  church,  the  custom 
was  to  administer  communion  at  tallies  placed  over  the  backs  of 
the  front  pews.  This  custom  ceased  when  the  building  was 
remodelled.  Now  all  are  served  in  the  pews.  In  1893,  the 
chapel  was  repaired.  It  was  repainted  and  papered  and  a  new 
roof  put  on.  Later,  the  manse  was  partly  reroofed  and  painted. 
During  his  pastorate,  there  were  approximately  one  hundred 
additions  to  the  membership  of  the  church.  Mrs.  Logan  had  a 
Bible  class  which  grew  from  a  membership  of  one  to  twenty-five, 
nearly  all  men.  Many  of  these  men  subsequently  united  with 
the  church. 

]\Ir.  Logan  writes:  "]\fany  of  the  most  prominent  members 
of  the  church  died  during  my  residence  there — Judge  Irving, 
William  Broughton,  Hon.  John  W.  Crisfield,  Robert  F.  Bratton, 
Esq.,  Mrs.  Mary  Handy  and  her  sister,  Mrs.  Campbell,  Mrs. 
Imogene  Polk  and  her  son,  Colonel  Polk,  and  Mrs.  William  P. 
Rider.  The  saddest  day  of  all  was  in  1892,  when  the  four  sons 
of  Mr.  C.  C.  Ball,  ranging  in  age  from  eight  to  sixteen  years, 
were  buried.  They  were  all  drowned  at  the  same  time.  The 
Sunday  school  erected  a  tasteful  monument  over  their  graves." 
When  the  Presbytery  mot  in  the  Manokin  Church  in  April,  1892, 
^Tr.  liOgan  was  elected  a  Commissioner  to  attend  the  General 
Assembly,  which  met  the  following  month  in  Portland,  Oregon. 


32  History  of  the  Manokin  Presbyterian  Church. 

Mr.  Logan  officiated  at  over  eighty  weddings  during  his 
Manokin  pastorate,  and  celebrated  his  own  twenty-fifth  wedding 
anniversary  there  on  the  ?lst  of  June,  1896,  when  above  four 
hundred  guests  were  present  during  the  evening.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Voorhees  also  celebrated  their  twenty-fifth  wedding  anniversary 
during  their  stay  in  Princess  Anne. 

Of  this  pastorate,  Mr.  Logan  wrote,  shortly  before  his  death 
in  1910:  "We  had  quiet  and  peaceful  times,  and  these  do  not 
record  much  history.  We  remember  our  life  in  Princess  Anne 
with  great  pleasure." 

Eev.  TJ.  a.  Robikson. 

Mr.  Robinson  acted  as  stated  supply  of  the  Manokin  Church 
during  the  year  1900-01.  He  was  then  Headmaster  of  Mar- 
garet Academy,  Onancoock,  Virginia.  He  did  not  see  his  way 
clear  to  accept  the  first  call  extended  to  him  by  the  church,  but 
when  it  was  repeated,  he  entered  upon  a  short  two  years'  pas- 
torate, 1901-03.  Mr.  Robinson  kindly  characterizes  it  as  "one 
of  the  happiest  of  my  life."'  He  adds :  "The  more  intimately  I 
came  to  know  the  people  and  their  bistory,  the  deeper  was  my 
interest  in  them  and  in  the  grand  old  church.  In  Manokin  was 
made  clear  to  me  a  criterion  of  what  Presbyterianism  as  a  system 
of  Christianity  can  be  and  can  do.  The  influence  of  the  church 
had  molded  a  people  into  a  type  of  strength  and  beauty  such  as 
one  rarely  sees  in  a  new  country  like  our  own.  The  formation 
of  character  of  a  large  and  beneficent  type,  a  most  beautiful 
blend  of  the  intellectual  and  the  spiritual,  had  become  the  expe- 
rience of  two  centuries,  and  the  heritage  of  people  of  a  like  kind 
to-day.  Such  loyalty,  reverence  and  culture  it  were  difficult  to 
duplicate. 

"When  my  work  began,  the  people  of  the  church  were  suf- 
fering somewhat  from  discouragement,  due,  in  the  main,  to 
serious  losses  by  death ;  but  the  spirit  of  the  people  was  and  is 
invincible.     VeiT  soon  the  old  power  manifested  itself,  and  un- 


Pastors  and  Stated  Supplies.  33 

der  the  blessing  of  God  growth  became  evident  in  every  depart- 
ment, and  when  I  was  recalled  to  tlie  Colley  Memorial  Church, 
Norfolk,  Virginia,  where  I  now  am  [April  24th,  1008],  the  pain 
of  the  separation  was  to  me  more  serious  than  I  can  express  in 
words." 

Rev.  Lewis  R.  Watson. 

On  the  2d  of  May,  1905,  Rev.  L.  R.  Watson  began  his  min- 
istry in  the  Manokin  Church,  the  installation  service  taking  place 
October  19th  of  the  same  year.  Revs.  William  H.  Logan,  of 
Wibnington,  Delaware;  J.  H.  Moore,  of  Pocomoke  City,  and  Dr. 
Joseph  B.  North,  of  Snow  Hill,  took  part  in  the  interesting 
service.  Acetelyne  gas  has  been  put  in  the  lecture  room,  and 
the  young  people  of  the  church,  after  untiring  efforts,  have  added 
a  porch  to  the  manse,  at  a  cost  of  about  $200.00.  This  adds 
very  much  to  the  appearance  of  the  manse,  as  well  as  to  the  com- 
fort and  pleasure  of  the  Pastor  and  his  family.  Forty-nine 
members  have  been  received  within  the  past  five  years — thirty- 
seven  on  profession  of  faith,  and  twelve  by  certificate  of  trans- 
fer from  other  churches.  Mr.  Watson  has  officiated  at  forty-seven 
funerals,  and  has  baptized  twenty-two  infants.  Mr.  Robert 
Adams,  a  former  Elder  of  Rehoboth  Church,  elected  to  the 
Eldei-ship  of  this  churcb  during  Mr.  Robinson's  pastorate,  was 
installed  on  November  1st,  1908, 


34  History  of  the  Manohin  Presbyterian  Church. 


THE  CHURCH  BUILDINGS. 


"Where  are  the  priceless  Session  books  of  the  Makemie  churches? 
gold  mines  of  historical  and  biographical  wealth,  if  they  could  be  resur- 
rected. What  ic'ould  I  not  have  given  for  their  precious  pages  while 
delving  for  years  in  the  dust  and  dark,  striving  to  revive  the  personality 
of  our  founder  and  his  contemporaries,  groping  in  the  fogs,  picking  up 
a  jewel  here  and  there,  all  his  churches  bankrupt  in  records." — Dr.  L. 
P.  BowEN,  IN  "Message  of  the  Monument." 


Just  when  or  by  whom  the  original  building  was  erected  "at 
the  head  of  the  Manokin"  will,  in  all  probability,  never  be  known. 
Somerset  County  records  show  that  religious  services  were  held 
in  that  county  as  early  as  1672,  by  the  Rev.  Robert  Maddux.  Dr. 
Alfred  Kevin  claims,  in  his  "History  of  Philadelphia  and  Phila- 
delphia Central,"  page  45,  that  the  Presbyterians  had  a  meeting- 
house at  Manokin  as  early  as  1680;  and  from  the  report  made 
by  Sheriff  Whittinghara.  of  Somerset  County,  Maryland,  in  1697, 
we  learn  that  "there  are  three  dissenting  meeting-houses  in  Som- 
erset,  one  at  Manokin,  about  thii-ty  feet  long."     Dr.  Mc- 

Ilvain  quotes  this  from  the  "Rolls  Office.  London,  Maryland 
Documents,  III,  B.  39."  "According  to  the  records  of  sister 
churches.  Thomas  Wilson  was  the  Pastor  of  the  Manokin 
Church  from  1686  to  1698."  Many  authorities  state  that  the 
Manokin  Church  was  organized  by  Francis  Makemie  in  1683. 

"Att  a  Court"  held  at  Dividing  Creek,  Somerset  County, 
June  12th,  1706,  Messrs.  .John  Hampton  and  George  McMsh 
received  permission  to  preach,  among  other  places,  at  "the  meet- 
ing-house at  the  head  of  the  Monocan." 

Spence,  in  his  "Early  History  of  the  Presbyterian  Church," 
page  190,  says:  "In  my  researches,  I  find  among  the  records  of 
Somerset  County,  a  deed  dated  in  1723,  to  the  Rev.  William 
Stewart,  the  Pastor,  and  others,  the  Elders,  'and  their  successors 


The  Church  Buildings.  35 

forever,  for  the  use,  support,  maintenauce  and  continuance  of  a 
meeting-liouse  for  the  worship  and  service  of  Almighty  God, 
according  to  the  Presbyterian  persuasion,  and  for  no  other  use 
whatever,'  for  'a  part  of  a  tract  of  land  called  Nutter's  Purchase, 
lying  on  the  north  side  of  the  head  of  Monokin  River,  containing 
one-quarter  of  an  acre.'  This  is  the  identical  spot  whereupon 
the  Presbyterian  Church  now  stands  at  Princess  Anne." 

According  to  the  Minutes  of  Manokin  Session,  the  building 
standing  in  1747  was  old  enough  to  be  in  need  of  repairs.  (See 
chapter  on  "Interesting  Events,'"  under  1747.) 

This  seems  to  be  about  all  that  can  be  reliably  ascertained 
prior  to  1747,  relative  to  the  original  building  or  buildings. 

The  church  which  is  now  standing  was  erected  in  1765,  on 
the  site  of  the  former  church  or  churches. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Session  held  in  December,  1764^  a 
month  after  the  Rev.  Jacob  Ker  became  Pastor,  which  was 
attended  by  him  and  ten  Elders,  the  following  action  was  taken : 

"The  Session,  finding  that  the  meeting  house  was  decayed, 
in  almost  every  part,  and  not  worth  repairing,  and  that  it  is  too 
small  to  contain  the  people  that  often  attend,  do  determine  to 
build  a  new  one  of  hi-ick,  50  by  40,  in  the  clear,  16  feet  from  the 
water  table  to  the  plate,  to  be  covered  with  cypress  shingles,  to 
liave  a  gallery  at  each  end  for  Negroes,  Avith  such  windows,  doors, 
pews  and  other  matters,  as  shall  be  convenient." 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Session  held  in  March,  1765,  "Mr. 
James  Wilson  offered  to  build  the  house  for  600  pounds,  which  was 
accepted  by  the  Session."  Singularly  enough,  no  reference  is 
made  on  the  Sessional  records  of  the  erection  and  completion  of 
the  building.  At  a  meeting  of  the  Session  held  on  the  23d  of 
December,  1765,  it  was  "Ordered,  That  Messrs.  Nelicmiah  King 
and  Samuel  and  David  Wilson  collect  the  several  sums  remain- 
ing due  for  the  meeting-house."  This  church  was  erected  on 
the  site  of  the  old  building. 

On  the  15th  of  September,  1767,  the  Session  directed  Levin 


36  History  of  the  ManoHn  Presbyterian  Church. 

Wilson  to  "get  the  windows  and  doors  painted  with  Turkey-point 
paint." 

December  26th,  1788,  Messrs.  John  and  James  Wilson  and 
William  Jones  were  appointed  a  committee  by  the  Session  "to 
have  the  necessary  repairs  done  to  the  house." 

On  the  23d  of  July,  1799,  the  Session  took  the  following 
action:  "Ordered,  That  Mr.  Jolm.  Porter  be  applied  to  to  build 
a  new  Session  house  and  repair  the  church."  The  Sessional 
record  further  states:  "These  repairs  were  completed  by  May 
9th,  1800,  and  cost  30  pounds,  7  shillings,  and  6  pence."  It  is 
interesting  to  note  that  in  the  entries  relative  to  the  payment  of 
Mr.  Porter's  bill,  the  dollar  mark  (•$)  is  used  for  the  first  time. 

From  the  Sessional  records  of  July  7th,  1801,  we  learn  that 
"A  late  break  having  happened  from  a  crowded  gallery,  which 
rendered  repairs  necessary,  a  committee  was  appointed  to  have 
the  repairs  made."  Labor  was  cheap  in  those  days.  Workmen 
were  engaged  to  do  the  work  at  ''six  and  six  pence  per  day." 

The  Session  appointed  a  committee  on  the  5th  of  August, 
1812,  "to  inspect  the  house  and  have  such  repairs  made  as  may 
render  it  comfortable."  The  following  month  (September  2d), 
the  committee  reported  "that  window  shutters,  bars  and  bolts 
were  required."  The  Session  also  took  the  following  action :  "As 
the  ground  of  the  church  lies  unenclosed,  and  ye  legal  title  is 
vested  in  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Jackson,  who  is  aged,  Eesolved,  That 
Messrs.  George  Handy  and  Samuel  Ker  apply  to  Mrs.  Jackson 
for  a  transfer  of  the  property  to  the  use  of  the  congregation." 
On  the  13th  of  May,  1813,  it  was  reported  by  the  committee  that 
Mrs.  Jackson  had  given  "a  deed  to  Messrs.  George  Handy  and 
Samuel  Ker,  conveying  to  the  congregation  any  rights  which  may 
hereafter  be  found  invested  in  her." 

The  following  resolution  was  adopted  by  the  Session  August 
18th,  1813:  "Resolved,  That  as  ye  congregation  is  increasing, 
and  the  demand  for  pews  greater  than  can  he  met,  that  there  be 
an  addition   of   at   least  twenty  feet  at  the  western  end  of  the 


The  Church  Buildings.  37 

church,  and  that  some  new  arrangement  of  the  pulpit  and  pews 
takes  place" 

On  the  28th  of  August,  1815,  a  committee  was  appointed 
hy  the  Session  "to  prepare  a  plan  for  ye  enlargement  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  in  Princess  Anne."  Messrs.  Samuel  Ker 
and  George  Handy  were  appointed  to  "prepare  a  petition  to 
Somerset  County,  at  April  term,  for  a  commission  to  mark  and 
bound  the  lot  of  ground  on  which  the  church  stands." 

The  following  year  the  Session  was  still  considering  the 
problem  of  the  enlargement  of  the  church.  On  the  28th  of 
March,  1816,  it  was  "Resolved,  That  an  addition  of  twenty  feet 
to  the  west  end  of  the  church  be  agreed  upon,  and  if,  upon  in- 
spection of  the  walls,  it  should  be  judged  practicable, that 

there  should  be  a  half  or  whole  story  raised  upon  the  old  walls; 
and  that  the  whole  interior  of  the  church  shoiild  be  remodelled 
as  to  the  pews,  putting  the  pulpit  in  the  west  end." 

At  this  same  meeting  (1816),  it  was  "Eesolved,  That  a 
substantial  enclosure  be  erected  around  the  building." 

At  a  meeting  held  on  the  7th  of  April,  1817,  it  was  deter- 
mined that  "in  consequence  of  the  great  scarcity  of  money,"  it 
would  be  inexpedient  to  carry  out  the  plans  for  the  enlargement 
of  the  church.  However,  it  was  determined  to  appropriate  the 
money  already  collected  for  that  purpose  to  "the  enclosing  of 
the  yard."  It  was  also  "Resolved,  That  the  south  part  of  the 
ground  belonging  to  this  church,  on  which  stands  a  saw  house, 
be  exposed  to  public  sale." 

In  1837,  the  present  parsonage  and  lot,  adjoining  the 
church,  was  purchased  of  William  W.  Handy,  Esq. 

The  external  woodwork  of  the  church  was  painted  in  1855, 
and  repairs  made.  Tlie  parsonage  was  also  repaired  and  reno- 
vated, at  a  cost  of  $2,500.00. 

In  the  spring  of  1860,  the  congregation  raised  the  sum  of 
$1,500.00  for  the  erection  and  furnishing  of  the  present  lecture 
room. 


38  History  of  the  Manohin  Presbyterian  Church. 

In  a  sermon  preached  on  the  12th  of  September,  1873,  Dr. 
A.  C.  Heaton,  the  then  Pastor,  said: 

"In  1872-3,  the  church  was  closed  to  divine  worship  for 
fifteen  months,  undergoing  extensive  repairs.  The  first  service 
was  held  on  Sunday  morning,  September  7th,  1873.  The  mode 
of  entering,  the  roof,  and  the  entire  internal  arrangement  of  the 
house,  have  undergone  a  change.  The  galleries,  which  at  one 
period  in  the  history  of  the  congregation  were  essentially  for 
the  servants  of  the  families  worshipping  here,  have  been  entirely 
removed ;  the  number  of  sittings  has  been  very  considerably  mul- 
tiplied, and  the  convenience  and  comfort  of  the  house,  as  a  place 
of  sacred  worship,  very  greatly  enhanced.  Not  only  has  the 
appearance  of  this  ancient  structure  been  very  greatly  improved, 
but  it  has  been  rendered  far  more  happily  adapted  to  its  sacred 
uses." 

Dr.  Heaton  speaks  of  it  as  being  of  such  "comely  propor- 
tions, such  beautiful  simplicity,  so  rich,  ornate  and  yet  so  rigidly 
chaste  in  all  its  finish."  Continuing,  he  says:  "It  was  by  the 
indefatigable  labors  of  the  ladies  of  the  church  that  the  first 
money  was  raised  for  these  improvements,  and  it  was  by  their 
skilful  and  preserving  handicraft  that  the  last  additions  of 
elegance  and  comfort  were  made  to  these  repairs.  In  addition 
to  this,  the  thanks  of  the  congregation  are  due  to  two  of  them, 
whose  names  I  am  not  permitted  to  mention  here,  whose  gener- 
ous contributions  have  materially  aided  in  the  prosecution  of  this 
work.  We  are  indebted  to  a  most  excellent  and  worthy  gentle- 
man of  Philadelphia  for  the  chandelier  and  lamps  with  which 
this  house  is  lighted.  The  cost  of  the  improvements  was  above 
$4,500.00." 

The  Eev.  William  H.  Logan,  who  became  pastor  of  the 
church  in  January,  1891,  wrote  from  Wilmington,  Delaware, 
under  date  of  May  1st,  1908: 

"During  the  summer  of  1891,  extensive  repairs  were  made 
to  the  church,  entirely  remodelling  it.     The  recess  pulpit  was 


The  Chnrch  Buildings.  39 

enlarged,  the  present  ceiling  put  in,  the  walls  frescoed,  the  floor 
recarpeted,  a  new  chandelier  and  pulpit  lights  added,  tlie  cellar 
excavated  and  furnace  put  in,  and  the  house  painted — all  costing 
about  $1,500.00,  which  was  paid  for  at  the  time.  (The  tower, 
I  think,  had  been  built  during  Mr.  Yoorhees'  pastorate.)  I 
planted  a  number  of  shade  trees  in  1896.  One  of  the  most  im- 
portant improvements  to  the  property  was  laying  the  pavement 
in  front  of  the  church  and  up  to  the  door  of  the  manse.  The 
graveyard  was  enlarged  in  1891,  and  later  the  field  was  taken  in, 
making  the  fine  cemetery  that  is  now  such  an  improvement  to 
the  property." 

Mr.  Logan  added  this  interesting  information :  "It  was  the 
tradition  that  the  body  of  the  Eev.  ^Yilliam  Stewart,  Pastor  of 
the  church  from  1719  to  1734,  was  buried  under  his  pulpit — 
probably  the  first  building  erected.  It  must  have  been  torn  down 
and  a  kiln  of  brick  burned  on  the  ground  and  the  walls  of  the 
present  church  erected  around  it,  for  John  W.  Crisfield,  Esq., 
informed  me  that  he  was  one  of  a  committee  who  had  a  new  floor 
put  in  tbe  church  now  more  than  sixty  years  ago,  and  that  they 
then  cleared  out  the  debris  of  the  bricks. 

"We  had  colored  men  digging  out  the  present  cellar  in  1891. 
One  morning  they  ran  into  the  manse  in  a  frightened  state  and 
told  me  that  they  had  come  on  a  grave.  I  went  with  them  and 
found  their  statement  true.  The  top  clay  was  very  hard  for 
three  feet,  and  under  this  the  sand,  so  that  the  shape  of  the  grave 
was  very  plain,  and  we  could  see  how  the  fire  had  burned  down 
into  the  clay.  We  found  pieces  of  the  wood  of  the  coflfin,  a  skull 
and  other  bones.  There  was,  however,  not  much  of  the  body  left 
after  being  under  ground  for  some  one  hundred  and  fifty  years. 
The  bones  proved  to  be  a  curiosity,  and  many  came  to  see  them. 
They  were  carefully  placed  in  a  box,  together  with  an  outline 
sketch  of  the  church  history,  and  reburied  on  the  north  side  of 
the  heater,  under  the  church,  for  some  future  delver  to  find  and 
wonder  over." 


40  History  of  the  Manohin  Presbyterian  Church. 

The  exterior  walls  of  the  church  are  much  as  they  were  when 
erected  in  1765. 

The  graveyard  surrounding  the  church  is  a  quiet,  beautiful 
spot,  and  loving  hands  and  loyal  hearts  care  for  it  tenderly,  for 
the  sake  of  its  hallowed  associations.  It  was  enlarged  in  1891. 
It  is  the  resting  place  of  many  by  whom  the  old  church  and  its 
traditions  were  held  sacred,  and  who  labored  with  unselfish  devo- 
tion that  its  blessed  influences  miglit  be  perpetuated.  It  is  for 
the  living  to  see  that  their  labors  were  not  in  vain. 

It  is  a  rare  privilege  to  be  permitted  to  write  this  brief 
tribute  to  their  worth.  May  the  memory  of  their  faithful  living, 
devoted  services  and  uplifting  influences  long  abide  as  a  blessed 
benediction  and  inspiration  to  us  who  loved  them ! 

"Daily  the  tides  of  life  go  ebbing  and  flowing  beside  them, 
Thousands  of  throbbing  hearts,  where  theirs  are  at  rest  and  forever, 
Thousands  of  aching  brains,  where  theirs  no  longer  are  busy, 
Thousands  of  toiling  hands,  where  theirs  have  ceased  from  their  labors. 
Thousands  of  weary  feet,  where  theirs  have  completed  their  journey." 


Interesting  Events.  41 


INTEEESTING   EVENTS. 


It  is  generally  understood  that  the  earlier  Sessional  records 
of  Manokin,  Wicomico  and  Kehoboth  churches,  were  lost  when 
the  house  of  the  Eev.  William  Stewart,  in  Princess  Anne,  was 
destroyed  by  fire.  Mr.  Stewart  died  in  1734-35.  The  Kev.  J. 
T.  H.  Waite,  who  was  Pastor  of  the  Salisbury  Church  from 
January,  1856,  to  May,  1867,  thus  writes,  in  an  "Historical 
Sketch  of  Wicomico  Church,"  prepared  in  1861 : 

"Doubtless  the  records  of  Wicomico  were  either  united  with 
those  of  Manokin,  or  in  a  separate  book,  in  the  house  of  Mr. 
Stewart  at  the  time,  and  at  the  same  time  destroyed ;  for  the  two 
losses — the  loss  of  Mr.  Stewart's  house  and  the  loss  of  the 
Wicomico  minute  book — are  mentioned  as  occurring  about  the 
same  time ;  and  it  is  evident  that  the  Kev.  Mr.  Stewart  was  the 
Pastor  of  the  united  congregations  of  Rehoboth,  Manokin  and 
Wicomico,  because  in  the  next,  or  new,  Session  books  of  Wicomico 
and  Manokin,  these  two  churches  were  united  under  the  ministry 

of  the  Rev.  Hugh  Henry, and  no  mention  is  made  in  either 

place  that  the  union  is  anything  new.  It  is  without  doubt, 
therefore,  that  the  first  Session  book  of  Wicomico  was  lost,  with 
the  first  one  of  Manokin  and  Rehoboth,  in  the  house  of  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Stewart,  who  having  one,  was  likely  to  have  had  both  the 
books  in  the  pastoral  possession." 

The  oldest  known  Sessional  records  of  the  Manokin  Church 
date  from  July  20th,  1747.  The  following  items  of  special  in- 
terest are  to  be  found  therein  : 

1747.  July  20th.  "The  congregation  of  Manokin  to  Col. 
Robert  King,  to  repairing  the  meeting-house  and  building  a 
study  house,  fourteen  pounds,  twelve  shillings." 

"It  is  agreed  on,  by  and  between  the  congregation  and  Cap- 
tain Henry  Waggamon,  that  the  said  Waggamon  erect  a  gallery 


43  History  of  the  Manoinn  Presbyterian  Church. 

for  Negroes  to  sit  in,  in  the  meeting-liouse,  and  that  the  steps 
or  door  of  such  gallery  to  enter  at  the  north-west  corner  of  the 
said  house,  and  to  the  whole  length  of  the  house;  the  galleries  to 
be  ten  feet  wide, the  outside  steps  to  be  good  and  sub- 
stantial." 

1747.  Sptember  14th.  "Being  Sacrament  Day,  the  collec- 
tion amounted  to  five  pounds,  five  shillings." 

1747.  December  7th.  "The  two  Sessions  of  Manokin  and 
Rehoboth  met  to  settle  afl'airs  with  Rev.  John  Hambleton,  in 
relation  to  a  glebe  or  plantation,  which  the  Sessions  engaged  in 
their  call  to  Mr.  Hambleton  to  perform,  or  liave  in  readiness  for 
his  use  and  benefit,  so  long  as  he  shall  continue  minister  or  Pastor 
of  the  two  congregations.  And  the  Sessions  could  not,  through 
some  disappointments,  accomplish  this  design  of  getting  such  a 
glebe,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hambleton  agreerl  to  take,  in  consideration 
thereof  for  the  first  year,  the  sum  of  three  pounds,  current 
money ;  and,  for  the  second  year,  the  sum  of  four  pounds,  which 
sums  are  ordered  him  by  the  two  Sessions,  it  being  money  due 
to  the  two  congregations  aforesaid  for  part  of  their  time  which 
the  said  Mr.  Hambleton  preached  in  Snow  Hill  congregation ; 
and,  for  the  third  year,  the  said  Mr.  Hambleton  agrees  to  take 
and  be  satisfied  with  whatever  rents  may  be  had  from  a  planta- 
tion l)elonging  to  Captain  David  Wilson,  which  was  formerly 
Andrew  Thompson's,  and  that  Captain  David  Wilson  shall  rent 
the  said  plantation  to  the  best  advantage." 

1748.  April  25th.  "At  a  meeting  of  the  Session  held  on 
this  date,  there  were  present  Rev.  John  Hambleton,  and  Elders 
Jolin  Gray,  David  Wilson,  Thomas  Brown,  Henry  Waggamon, 
Thomas  Jones  and  Thomas  Pol  lit."  One  of  the  actions  taken 
was  this:  "It  is  ordered  and  consented  to  that  Mr.  Thomas  Jones 
accompany  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hambleton  as  Elder  to  Synod  in  Phila- 
delphia, which  is  to  sit  May  25th,  A.  D.  1748."  An  examina- 
tion of  the  Minutes  of  Synod  reveals  the  fact  that  Messrs.  Ham- 


Interesting  Events.  43 

bleton  and  Jones  were  present,  as  representatives  from  the  Pres- 
bytery of  New  Castle,  at  the  meeting  of  Synod, 

"The  Manokin  Session  hath  comph'ed  with  their  obligation 
to  the  Eev.  Mr.  Hambleton,  respecting  the  three  pounds  in  lieu 
of  the  glebe." 

"The  gallery  which  Captain  Henry  Waggamon  agreed  with 
the  Session  to  have  built  is  complied  -with,  according  to  contract, 
and  the  cost  thereof  amounts  to  the  sum  of  nine  pounds,  eleven 
shillings  and  five  pence." 

1748.  September  oth.  Communion  service  was  observed 
this  day.  Mr.  Hambleton  was  assisted  by  the  Rev.  John  Erskine, 
whose  name  does  not  appear  in  the  published  list  of  Presbyterian 
ministers  from  1706  to  1881. 

1749  January  24th.  The  Session  took  action  on  three 
small  legacies  left  to  the  use  of  the  Manokin  congregation :  one 
of  fourteen  pounds,  from  Eobert  Wilson,  deceased ;  one  of  ten 
pounds,  from  John  Gray,  deceased ;  and  one  of  seventeen  pounds 
from  John  Tunstall,  deceased. 

1750.  February  19th.  Reference  is  made  to  a  bequest  of 
ten  pounds,  being  a  legacy  left  to  the  congregation  by  Robert 
Allason,  deceased. 

1751.  September  16th.  "This  day  the  Session  agreed  with 
Mrs.  Geddes  to  take  care  of  the  meeting-house,  for  which  she  is 
to  have  15  shillings  per  annum." 

"It  is  ordered  that  Mr.  Thomas  Sloss  and  his  wife  have 
liberty  to  sit  in  the  pew  which  formerly  belonged  to  Mr.  Thomas 
Brown." 

1752  September  24th.  "To  tbe  Rev.  Hugh  Henry,  for 
his  assistance  at  the  Sacrament,  one  pound,  twelve  shillings  and 
four  pence." 

1753.  April  22d.  At  the  meeting  of  Session  held  this  day, 
nine  Elders  were  present,  together  with  the  Pastor,  Rev.  John 
Hambleton.  At  this  meeting  it  was  "ordered  that  Nehemiah 
King,  Henry  Waggamon  and  Thomas  Jones,  at  some  convenient 


44  History  of  the  Manolcin  Presbyterian  Church. 

time  after  the  date  hereof,  and  in  the  presence  of  Zerubbabel 
King,  survey  that  part  of  a  tract  of  land  purchased  by  the  Ses- 
sion from  Zerubbabel  King  as  a  glebe  for  the  benefit  of  Manokin 
congregation,  which  lieth  on  the  north  side  of  King's  Branch, 
being  part  of  a  tract  of  land  called  Gullet's  Advisement." 

Then  follows  a  statement  that  on  the  third  day  of  August, 
1753,  the  land  was  surveyed  and  found  to  contain  thirty-eight 
acres.  Twenty-two  acres  had  already  been  paid  for,  and  the 
remaining  sixteen  acres  were  purchased  at  twenty  shillings  an 
acre. 

1758.  It  was  ordered  that  two  of  the  Elders  go  to  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Lewistown,  "with  a  call  to  the  Eev.  Hugh  Henry,  for 
the  one-half  of  his  labors  between  the  two  congregations  of  Mano- 
kin and  Eehoboth."  The  Presbytery  was  to  meet  at  Cold 
Springs,  in  Sussex  County,  Delaware,  July  85th. 

It  was  also  agreed  at  this  meeting  "that  Thomas  Jones  un- 
dertake to  have  sundry  repairs  done  on  the  meeting-house  and 
back  pews." 

1758.  The  call  was  approved,  and  Mr.  Henry  "took  the 
pastoral  care  of  the  congregations  of  Manokin  and  Eehoboth" 
either  in  August  or  December  of  1758. 

1759.  January  15th.  "Ordered,  that  William  Skirven 
take  into  his  possession  and  care  ye  communion  table  cloth;  also 
that  he  take  care  of  and  keep  clean  ye  meeting-house  and  Session 
house,  and  keep  ye  door  and  ye  windows  of  ye  same  shut,  for 
which  ye  Session  agree  to  give  him  for  his  trouble  fifteen  shill- 
ings by  ye  year." 

1759.  April  28th.  "H  being  ye  preparation  Saturday 
before  ye  administration  of  ye  H.  S.,  ye  persons  following  applied 
for  admission  to  ye  H.  Table,  and,  after  due  examinal,  were 
admitted,  viz.,  Christopher  Double,  Benjamin  Polk,  Mary  Polk, 
William  Benston  and  Mary  Dunham." 

1759.  November  5th.  "It  is  agreed  that  ye  Session  have 
a  certain  fixed  time  of  meeting  to  be  remembered  and  observed 


Interesting  Events.  45 

by  all  ye  members  conscientiously,  and  ye  quarterly  days  on  ye 
Mondays  immediately  preceding  the  several  County  Courts  held 
in  this  county,  on  which  it  is  ordered  and  agreed  this  Session 
always  meet;  and  this  exclusive  of  occasional  calls  it  may  have 
besides. 

"It  is  also  ordered,  that  George  Irving  purchase  from  Ben- 
jamin Burridge  a  book,  well  bound,  to  contain,  or  in  which  to 
insert,  ye  members  and  acts  of  this  Session." 

At  this  meeting  of  the  Session,  it  was  determined  that  "ye 
members  of  the  congregation  be  divided,"  and  certain  Elders 
be  responsible  for  collecting  the  subscriptions  of  the  members. 
The  largest  subscriber  was  Nehemiah  King,  who  gave  the  sum 
of  three  pounds,  ten  shillings,  to  the  current  expenses  of  the 
church. 

1760.  June  16th.  "Ordered,  That  Mr.  William  Skirven 
purchase  a  lock  and  have  it  fixed  to  the  gallery  door;  and  also 
to  repair  the  two  windows  on  each  side  of  the  pulpit;  also  to 
have  the  racks  fixed  in  the  meeting-house  yard." 

1 760.  October  19th.  The  communion  service  was  observed  on 
this  day,  and  the  sum  of  one  pound,  six  pence,  was  paid  to  the 
Rev.  John  Harris  for  assisting  the  Rev.  Hugh  Henr}'-,  Pastor,  in 
the  service. 

1761.  January  20th.  The  Session  "this  day  contracted 
with  Mr.  David  Wilson,  and  sold  him  the  land,  whicli  hath  been 
purchased  for  the  use  of  the  congregation  of  Manokin,  being  part 
of  a  tract  of  land  called  Gullit's  Advisement,  for  the  sum  of 
forty  pounds." 

"It  is  ordered  that  Captain  Ephraim  Wilson  use  his  conve- 
nience to  recover  from  Negro  Somerset  a  year's  rent  due  from 
him  to  the  congregation,  which  hath  been  owing  since  ye  year 
1747." 

1761.  April  20th.  "It  is  ordered  that  Nehemiah  Bozman 
sit  with  Mr.  Thomas  Sloss  in  pew  No.  4 ;  that  John  Anderson 
sit  with  William  Smith  in  pew  Xo.  12;  that  John  Law  sit  in  the 


46  History  of  the  Manoldn  Presbijtenan  Church. 

pew  under  the  stairs,  which  leads  up  into  the  gallery,  Xo.  10, 
Mrs.  Jane  Strawbridge  is  permitted  to  hold  a  pew  at  the  S.  W, 
comer  of  the  meeting-house,  at  the  back  of  Mr.  George  Irving's 
pew.  Mr.  David  Wilson  is  permitted  to  hold  a  pew  at  the  S.  E. 
corner  of  the  meeting-house,  at  the  back  of  Levin  and  Samuel 
Wilson's  pew." 

1761.  June  30th.  "Whereas,  The  Session  on  the  20th  of 
January  last,  did  contract  with  Mr.  David  Wilson  for  the  sale 
of  a  certain  parcel  of  land  formerly  purchased  by  them  for  a 
glebe,  containing  thirty-eiglit  acres,  bat  as  the  Session  since  such 
contract  apprehend  that  they  are  entitled  to  other  lands  which 
may  be  contiguous  to  the  former  lands,  which,  if  so,  the  whole 
might  answer  the  former  intended  purpose  of  making  a  sufficient 
glebe ;  and  as  it  is  judged  that  the  two  congregations  of  Wicomico 
and  Pocomoke  are  equally  entitled  to  such  suspected  lands,  it 
is  agreed  that  the  three  aforesaid  Sessions  all  meet  at  the  Session 
house  at  the  head  of  the  Manokin,  for  which  purpose  the  Rev. 
Hugh  Henry  hath  undertaken  to  give  notice  to  the  Sessions  of 
Pocomoke  and  Wicomico.  In  the  interim,  Captain  James  Polk 
and  Mr.  William  Skirven  are  ordered  to  make  what  inquiry  they 
possibly  can  into  the  title  of  the  land  aforesaid.  To  all  of  which 
the  said  David  Wilson,  being  present,  consented  to." 

1761.  August  ISth.  "Pursuant  to  the  business  of  the  last 
Session,  Col.  Robert  Jenkins  Henrj'^,  from  Pocomoke  Session, 
and  Messrs.  Benjamin  and  William  Vennibles,  from  Wicomico 
Session,  appeared,  and  after  full  inquiry  and  examination  of  all 
the  concerns  of  the  land  belonging  to  the  congregation,  and 
mature  deliberation  thereon,  they  judge  that  there  is  no  more 
land  belonging  to  knowably  by  any  of  them,  than  that  part  of 
Gullet's  Advisement  which  they  contracted  to  sell  to  David  Wil- 
son at  their  meeting  the  twentieth  of  January  last,  and  do  now 
recontract  with  the  said  David  Wilson  on  the  terms  agreed  on 
at  that  session,  and  order  that  all  the  order  of  the  Session  be 
observed." 


Interesting  Events.  47 

1762.  February  8th.  "Since  our  last  sitting,  Messrs. 
Thomas  Sloss,  Levin  Wilson,  William  Polk,  Samuel  Wilson  and 
David  Wilson  are  chosen,  and  regularly  set  apart,  to  sit  in  the 
capacity  and  serve  in  this  congregation  as  Elders." 

1762.  August  16th.  This  is  the  last  recorded  meeting  at 
which  the  Kev.  Hugh  TTenry  presided.  He  probably  died  shortly 
after  this  date. 

1763.  March  18th.  "On  the  day  and  year  above  written, 
was  paid  by  the  said  Session,  the  sum  of  thirty  pounds  and  ten 
pence  to  Mr.  James  Henry,  on  account  of,  and  in  behalf  of,  the 
administratrix  of  the  late  Rev.  Hugh  Henry  of  this  county, 
deceased."     Twelve  Elders  of  the  church  attended  this  meeting. 

1764.  May  15th.  "The  congregation  of  Manokin,  having 
unanimously  approved  of  the  ability  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Jacob  Ker, 
and  entertaining  a  good  opinion  of  his  piety  and  integrity,  the 
Session  de  resolve  to  give  the  said  Mr.  Ker  a  call  to  take  charge 
of  this  congregation,  under  God,  presuming  that  the  Wicomico 
Session  will  join  in  the  said  call  in  behalf  of  this  congregation. 
It  is  also  resolved  that  the  sum  of  sixty  pounds  annually  be 
offered  in  the  said  call  to  Mr.  Ker,  on  behalf  of  this  congregation, 
for  his  ministerial  labors  among  them.  It  is  ordered  that  Mr. 
Samuel  K.  Wilson  attend  at  the  next  New  Brunswick  Presbytery, 
of  which  Mr.  Ker  is  a  member,  and  there  present  their  call,  to- 
gether with  such  member  of  Wicomico  Session  as  shall  by  them 
be  sent  for  that  purpose." 

1764.  June  5th.  "Mr.  Samuel  Wilson  reported  to  the 
Session,  in  observance  to  their  order,  he,  with  Captain  William 
Winder,  from  Wicomico  Session,  attended  the  New  Brunswick 
Presb^rtery,  at  Elizabeth  Town,  in  West  Jersey,  where  they  did 
present  to  the  said  Presbytery  a  permission  from  Lewistown 
Presbytery,  to  prosecute  a  call  at  the  New  Brunswick  Presbytery 

for  the  aforesaid  Mr.  Ker Thereon,  Mr.  Ker  obtained 

his  dismission  from  that  Presbytery,  and  cheerfully  signified  his 


48  History  of  the  Manokin  Presbyterian  Church. 

intention  of  accepting  the  call,  and  proposed  being  down  between 
the  middle  and  last  of  this  instant."  „ 

1764.  July.  "The  Eev.  Mr.  Ker,  having  removed  from 
the  New  Brunswick  Presbytery  and  settled  in  tliis  congregation, 
ever  since  the  second  Sabbath  this  instant,  agreed  that  a  call 
for  him  be  prepared  to  the  Lewistown  Presbytery,  at  their  next 
meeting." 

1764.  August  16th.  Eleven  Elders  were  present  at  this 
meeting.     The  following  was  presented: 

THE  CALL  OF  PEINCESS  ANNE  AND  WICOMICO  TO  THE 
REV.    MR.    JACOB    KER. 

"Dear  Sir — 

"We,  the  united  congregations  of  Princess  Anne  and 
Wicomico,  having  through  the  kind  Providence  of  God  had  the 
opportunity  of  hearing  you  preach  sundry  times,  and  observing 
your  instructive  conversation  and  example,  we  trust  to  our  great 
comfort  and  edification,  do  unanimously  and  heartily  agree  to 
invite  and  call  you.  Reverend  Sir,  to  take  the  present  charge  and 
oversight  of  us  in  the  T;ord ;  and  we  promise  that  upon  your 
accepting  this  our  call,  we  shall,  through  the  grace  of  God,  care- 
fully attend  upon,  and  improve  by,  each  of  your  ministrations, 
receiving  tlie  Word  of  the  Lord  at  your  mouth  as  well  as  sub- 
mitting to  your  due  exercise  of  discipline  and  counsel,  if  our 
faults  shall  be  such  as  will  expose  us  thereto;  and  that  you  may 
attend  on  the  duties  of  your  office  without  distraction  from  the 
cares  of  this  life,  we  promise  you  a  comfortable  and  sufficient 
support,  according  to  our  several  abilities,  particularly  that  each 
of  the  congregations  for  themselves  will  give  you  sixty  pounds 
per  annum  during  your  regular  incumbency  among  us, 

"Rev.  and  Dear  Sir,  the  necessitious  condition  of  many  souls 
who  are  ready  to  perish  for  lack  of  vision,  the  desires  and  prayers 
of  God's  children  who  are  hungering  after  spiritual  food,  the 
honor  and  interest  of  the  Kingdom  of  Christ,  that  needs  some 


Interesting  Events.  49 

one  well  disposed  and  well  gifted  to  defend  and  advance  it,  as 
well  as  the  prospect  of  gaining  many  souls  to  the  Eedeemed, 
with  many  other  arguments  we  might  offer,  all  conspire  to  insure 
our  earnest  request  that  you  will  accept  our  call.  And  we  do 
earnestly  request  the  Eev.  Presbytery  of  Lewistown  to  concur 
with  us  herein,  and  present  this  our  call  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Jacob 
Ker;  and  we,  your  humble  supplicants,  as  in  duty  bound,  shall 
ever  pray." 

This  call  was  signed  by  thirty-four  members  of  the  Manokin 
congregation.  It  was  "ordered  that  Mr.  James  Polk,  with  such 
member  as  shall  be  appointed  by  Wicomico  congregation,  present 
the  said  call  to  the  next  Presbytery."  Singularly  enough,  the 
name  of  but  one  woman,  Mary  Denwood,  appears  among  the 
thirty-four  signers. 

1764.  August.  "Mr.  James  Polk  made  report,  that  ac- 
cording to  order  of  Session,  he  had,  in  company  with  Col.  John 
Henry,  appointed  by  the  Wicomico  congregation,  waited  upon 
the  Presbytery  at  Dover,  and  presented  the  call  to  them,  who 
immediately  delivered  it  to  Mr.  Ker,  and  was  accepted  by  him ; 
and  that  the  Presbytery  appointed  a  meeting  of  the  Presbytery 
at  Princess  Anne  for  his  installment,  on  the  third  Wednesday 
of  November  next." 

1764.  November.  "Ordered  that  the  members  of  Session 
sit  together  in  Mr.  Sloss'  pew,  in  order  to  be  convenient  to  answer 
together,  in  behalf  of  the  congregation,  at  the  Installation ;  and 
that  the  Elders  of  Wicomico  congregation  be  desired  to  sit  in 
the  pew  with  them. 

"The  Presbytery  proceeded,  according  to  their  appointment, 
to  the  services  of  the  day  suitable  to  the  occasion.  The  Rev.  Mr. 
Miller  preached  a  sermon  from  Heb.  13:  17,  'Obey  them  that 
have  rule  over  you,  and  submit  yourselves,  for  they  watch  for 
your  souls  as  they  that  must  give  account.'  The  Rev.  Mr.  Harris 
gave  the  charge." 


50  History  of  the  ManoJcin  Presbyterian  Church. 

1764.  December.  "The  Session,  finding  that  the  meeting- 
house was  decayed,  in  almost  every  part,  and  not  worth  repairing, 
and  that  it  is  too  small  to  contain  the  people  that  often  attend, 
do  determine  to  build  a  new  one  of  brick,  50  x  40  in  the  clear, 
16  feet  from  the  water  table  to  the  plate,  to  be  covered  with  inch 
cypress  shingles,  to  have  a  gallery  at  each  end  for  Negroes,  with 
such  windows,  doors,  pews  and  other  matters  as  shall  be 
convenient. 

"Ordered  that  Messrs.  George  Irving,  Thomas  Jones  and 
Samuel  Wilson  give  public  notice  by  affixing  advertisements,  that 
the  building  of  the  said  house  will  be  let  out  publicly  to  the 
lowest  bidder,  and  give  notice  of  the  time  and  place  in  the  said 
advertisement." 

1765.  January.  "Messrs.  Irving,  Jones  and  Samuel  Wil- 
son having  complied  v^dth  the  order  of  the  last  meeting  of  giving 
notice  of  letting  out  the  meeting-house,  and  this  being  the  day, 
the  same  was  publicly  set  up  and  struck  off  to  Samuel  Wilson, 
at  the  sum  of  790  pounds." 

1765.  March.  "The  Session,  taking  into  consideration 
that  the  sum  at  which  the  house  was  struck  off  was  more  than 
the  congregation  could  afford  to  give,  made  application  to  Mr. 
Wilson  ta  release  them  from  their  obligation,  which  was  obtained, 
and  afterwards  Mr.  James  Wilson  offered  to  build  the  house  for 
600  pounds,  which  was  accepted  by  the  Session,  and  accordingly 
agreed  that  bonds,  with  security,  should  be  given  for  the  per- 
formance of  the  work  and  payment  of  the  money,  which  was 
done." 

1765.  April.  "Mr.  Ker  informed  the  Session  of  an  order 
of  Synod  for  the  making  of  collections  in  the  congregations  be- 
longing to  it,  for  the  support  of  two  missionaries  into  the  dis- 
tressed part  of  North  Carolina,  and  of  an  Indian  school  in  the 
Jerseys.  Agreed  upon  it  that  the  same  should  be  complied  with, 
and  it  was  accordingly  done  to  the  amount  of  eight  pounds,  seven 
shillings  and  six  pence." 


Interesting  Events.  51 

1765.  December  23d.  "Ordered  that  Messrs.  George 
Irving  and  William  Skirven  collect  tliis  year's  salary  for  Mr. 
Ker."  This  custom  seems  to  have  prevailed  for  a  long  time  in 
the  church. 

176fi  March  17th.  "It  having  pleased  God  to  remove  Mr. 
Thomas  Jones,  the  Clerk  of  this  Session,  by  death,  they  pro- 
ceeded to  make  choice  of  another,  and  did  appoint  Captain 
Ephraim  Wilson  for  that  pui-pose." 

1767.  September  15th.  "Ordered  that  Levin  Wilson  get 
the  windows  and  doors  painted  with  Turkey-point  paint." 

Between  1767  and  1788,  very  few  meetings  are  recorded,  and 
nothing  of  special  interest  was  done. 

1788.  December  26th.  "Ordered  that  tlie  sums  marked  on 
the  different  pews  shall  be  annually  collected  by  the  persons 
appointed  to  collect  Mr.  Ker's  salary,  for  the  purpose  of  keeping 
the  house  in  good  repair. 

"Ordered  that  Messrs.  John  Wilson,  James  Wilson  and 
William  Jones  be  appointed  to  have  the  necessary  repairs  done 
to  the  house. 

"Ordered  that  the  tax  on  the  pews  for  the  purpose  of  repair- 
ing the  house  be  immediately  collected  by  Messrs.  Denwood  and 
James  Wilson ;  and  that  every  collection  hereafter  becomes  due 
in  July,  as  before  directed. 

"Ordered  that  Mr.  Denwood  Wilson  keep  the  house  until 
July,  1789." 

1790.  May  8th.  "As  the  mode  appointed  by  Session  some 
time  ago  for  raising  a  small  sum  of  money  to  make  some  repairs 
on  the  house,  as  well  as  some  other  purposes,  did  not  give  general 
satisfaction,  they  have  agreed  to  hand  a  collection  box  around 
the  congregation  to  answer  this  purpose." 

1790.  June  19th.  "The  Session  proceeded  to  count  th" 
money  received  from  the  congregation  for  the  purpose  of  mak- 
ing repairs  to  the  meeting-house :  there  appeared  to  be  nine 
pounds,  eleven  shillings  and  five  pence  of  it,  which  money  the 


53  History  of  the  ManoJcin  Presbyterian  Church. 

Session  paid  to  Mr.  Ker,  as  they  did  not  expect  to  make  imme- 
diate use  of  it." 

1792.  July  21st.  "Paid  Mr.  Hobbs  for  keeping  the  meet- 
ing-house, 2  pounds,  10  shillings  and  3  pence." 

1793.  July  22d.  "Ordered  that  a  collection  be  made  in 
the  congregation  as  soon  as  possible,  for  the  purpose  of  defraying 
the  expense  of  keeping  the  meeting-house  and  cleaning  the  same." 

1794.  August  18th.  It  was  ordered  "that  no  person  from 
this  time  be  permitted  to  hold  a  pew  in  this  meeting-house  who 
does  not  contribute  and  pay  annually  to  the  support  of  the  or- 
dinances statedly  administered  in  the  same. 

"That  the  pews  Nos.  41  and  42  be  appropriated  to  the  use 
and  accommodation  of  such  persons  as  are  unable  to  pay." 

At  the  Session  meeting  held  on  the  20th  of  July,  1795,  the 
Rev.  Jacob  Ker  presided  for  the  last  time.  He  died  nine  days 
later,  "on  Wednesday,  the  29th  of  July,  1795."  He  had  been 
Pastor  of  the  church  since  1764,  a  period  of  thirty-one  years. 
His  last  sermon  was  from  John  15:8,  "Herein  is  My  Father 
glorified,  that  ye  bear  much  fruit;  so  shall  ye  be  My  disciples." 

1795.  August  18th.  "Agreed  that  Mr.  James  Wilson  wait 
on  the  Presbytery  at  their  earliest  meeting,  and  in  behalf  of  this 
Session,  together  with  such  members  as  may  be  appointed  by  the 
Wicomico  Session,  make  application  for  the  supply  of  a  minister 
in  the  room  of  the  Rev.  Jacob  Ker,  deceased. 

1796.  January  9th  "Mr.  Thomas  King  appointed  to 
apply  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Collins  to  preach  pro  tempore." 

1796.  April  26th.  "Ordered  that  a  collection  be  taken  in 
the  congregation  every  Sabbath  during  the  time  the  Rev.  John 
Collins  is  appointed  by  Presbytery  to  preach." 

The  following  is  entered  upon  the  Sessional  minutes  at  this 

time:  "The  Presbytery directs  that  the  Rev.  John  Collins 

supply  every  third  Sabbath  at  Rockawaking  (Wicomico),  Mano- 
kin  and  Rehoboth,  in  rotation,  till  the  last  of  August,  the  rest 
of  his  time,  until  the  next  sessions,  to  be  at  his  own  discretion. 


Interesting  Events.  53 

Beginning  the  third  Sabbath  after  this,  at  Rehoboth ;  the  fourth 
(the  24th  of  April)  at  Manokin;  the  first  Sabbath  of  May,  being 
the  first  of  the  month,  at  Rockawaking  (Wicomico).  Mr.  Ran- 
kin is  appointed  witli  Mr.  Collins,  to  administer  the  Sacrament 
of  the  Lord's  Supper  at  Rockawaking  the  second  Sabbath  in 
October.  Mr.  McMaster  is  appointed  to  administer  the  same 
ordinance,  with  Mr.  Collins,  at  Manokin  on  the  first  Sabbath  of 
June,  being  the  5th  day  of  that  month." 

1796.  August  '^Dth.  "Doctor  Ker  unanimously  elected  a 
member  of  Session." 

Mr.  Collins'  period  for  supplying  the  congregation  having 
elapsed,  "Resolved.  That  the  sense  of  the  people  be  taken  relative 
to  Mr.  Collins  and  Mr.  McLane,  a  licentiate  from  Carlisle  Pres- 
bytery, who  has  visited  our  churches  during  the  last  winter,  and 
given  abundant  satisfaction  to  the  people.  Tlie  heads  of  families 
being  now  present,  they  proceeded  to  ballot,  and  a  majority  ap- 
peared in  favor  of  ]\Ir.  Collins,  who  was  then  ofi'ered  150  pounds 
to  take  the  charge  of  the  two  churches.  Mr.  Collins  declined  to 
accept  the  offer.  The  Session  then  proceeded  to  appoint  j\Iajor 
Jones,  with  Major  Bailey  of  the  vipper  church  (Wicomico),  to 
address  a  letter  to  Mr.  McLane,  and  to  make  him  the  same  offer. 
A  considerable  time  elapsed  before  they  received  his  answer, 
which  was  in  the  negative.  In  the  interim,  a  Mr.  Slemons  and 
Paterson,  licentiates  from  New  Castle  Presbyteiy,  visited  the 
churches  and  were  highly  pleasing.  Several  members  of  both 
Sessions  applied  to  them  to  settle  one  of  them  with  us.  They 
could  obtain  no  satisfactory  assurance  from  them.  They  spent 
a  few  Sabbaths  only  in  supplying  our  churches,  and  returned. 
After  which.  Major  Jones  from  this,  and  Major  Bailey  from  the 
upper  church,  were  appointed  to  uTite  to  them,  and  solicit  them 
to  return,  one,  or  each  of  them.  The  letters  miscarried,  and 
consequently  we  obtained  no  answer." 

1798.  March  24th.  Two  members  of  the  Session  were  sent 
to  the  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  of  Xew  Castle,  which  met  in 


54  History  of  the  ManoTcin  Preshyterian  Church. 

Wilmington  in  April.  They  obtained  "a  promise  from  Mr. 
Paterson  to  spend  four  Sabbaths  from  the  middle  of  April  with 
us;  during  which  period  the  Session  raised,  by  subscriptions, 
175  pounds  for  him,  and  he  was  invited  by  the  Sessions  to  take 
charge  of  the  churches  and  for  the  above  salary.  He  promised 
to  give  an  answer  in  a  few  weeks,  which  he  did — in  the  negative. 
"The  Eev.  Mr.  Slemons  had  been  most  cordially  solicited  by 
the  commissioners  to  visit  our  churches,  with  a  warranted  assur- 
ance of  his  being  highly  acceptable  to  our  people.  He  accord- 
ingly paid  us  a  visit  in  the  succeeding  winter,  and  received  a 
unanimous  invitation  to  take  the  charge  of  the  churches  upon  a 
fixed  salary  of  180  pounds,  with  a  promisory  addition  of  twenty 
(200  pounds),  if  it  shall  be  found  practicable  to  collect  it.  Mr. 
Slemons  having  expressed  his  willingness  to  accept  the  offer,  the 
session  means  to  bring  matters  to  a  speedy  arrangement.  Sub- 
scription papers  were  put  into  circulation,  and  the  promptness 
with  which  they  were  filled  up,  practically  confirmed  the  attach- 
ment of  the  people  to  Mr.  Slemons.  He  was  obliged  to  return 
to  Lancaster,  under  a  promise  to  return  by  the  first  or  middle 
of  June,  1799.  During  the  absence  of  Mr.  Slemons,  the  Ses- 
sions requested  a  special  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  to  be  called 
on  June  26th." "The  Presbyterv'  met,  agreeably  to  ap- 
pointment, Mr.  Slemons  and  the  commissioners  attending." 
Mr.  Slemons  was  ordained  by  Presbytery  the  next  day  (June 
27th,  1798).  Mr.  McMaster  was  appointed  to  install  him  in  the 
churches  as  soon  as  possible,  which  he  did.  The  Manokin  Ses- 
sion "entered  into  a  l)ond  with  Mr.  Slemons  for  one  hundred 
pounds,  payable  on  the  first  day  of  June,  1800.  The  upper  Ses- 
sion (Wicomico)  bonding  for  80  pounds.  This  Session  to  en- 
deavor to  make  up  110  pounds,  and  the  upper  Session  90  pounds, 
to  complete  the  200  pounds."  The  names  of  71  persons  appear 
attached  to  the  subscription  list.  John  C.  Wilson  subscribed  the 
sum  of  16  pounds,  7  shillings,  6  pence.  Those  next  to  him  were 
Thomas  King,  Samuel  Ker  and  Levin  Winder,  who  subscribed 


Tnteresting  Events.  55 

4  pounds,  10  shillings  each.     Ten  of  the  subscribers  were  women. 

1799  July  23d.  "Ordered  that  Mr.  John  Porter  be  ap- 
plied to  to  build  a  new  Session  house,  and  repair  the  church,  by 
the  direction  of  the  Session."  These  repairs  were  completed  by 
May  0th.  1800,  and  cost  30  pounds,  7  shillings  and  6  pence.  In 
the  entries  relative  to  the  paj'ment  of  Mr.  Porter's  bill,  the  dollar 
mark  is  used  for  the  first  time. 

1801  July  7th.  "A  late  break  having  happened  from  a 
crowded  gallery,  which  rendered  repairs  necessary,"  a  committee 
was  appointed  to  have  the  repairs  made.  Worlonen  were  engaged 
at  "six  and  six  pence  per  day." 

1802.  April  24th.  Col.  George  Handy  and  Mr.  George 
Irving  were  elected  Elders.  The  request  of  the  Wicomico  Ses- 
sion that  the  two  Sessions  meet  'Vearly  by  committee  or  other- 
Mase  to  consult  upon  measures  of  general  utility  to  the  churches," 
was  approved. 

1803.  January  29th.  "Resolved,  That  the  Treasurer, 
Samuel  Tver,  purchase  a  quarto  Bible  for  the  use  of  the  pulpit." 

1803.  July  23d.  Mr.  Josiah  W.  Heath  was  elected  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Session.  II  was  also  "Eesolved,  That  our  church  avail 
itself  of  the  incorporation  law  of  this  State,  as  it  relates  to  the 
Church  in  general,  and  that  a  day  of  meeting  to  elect  Trustees 
be  publicly  announced  next  Lord's  Hay." 

1803.  September  23d.  "Pesolved,  l^hat  the  Sacrament  of 
the  Lord's  Supper  be  administered  twice  a  year  in  each  of  the 
churches." 

1804  "In  consequence  of  the  departure  of  Mr.  George 
Irving,  one  of  the  Ruling  Elders  of  this  church,  the  Session  pro- 
ceeded to  elect  his  successor,  Mr.  Elias  Bagley." 

1806.  May  6th.  Hr.  Thomas  Handy  was  elected  an  Elder 
in  place  of  William  Polk,  deceased. 

1810.  July  10th.  "Three  vacancies  in  ye  Session  having 
been  caused  by  ye  deaths  of  Mr.  Jonathan  Pollitt  and  Mr.  James 
Wilson,  and  ye  removal  of  Tir.  Tliomas   Handy,  Messrs.  Jesse 


56  Tlisiory  of  the  Manohin  Presbyterian  Church. 

Wainwright,  Mr.  William  Stewart  and  Dr.  Handy  Irving  were 
appointed  to  fill  them." 

1811.  July  35th.  It  was  resolved  that  Jesse  Wainwright 
and  William  Stewart  "he,  as  soon  as  convenient,  ordained  as 
Euling  Elders  of  this  church,  which  has  heen  delayed  in  conse- 
quence of  the  illness  of  Mr.  Slemons.''  As  Dr.  Irving  had  re- 
moved, no  action  was  taken  in  his  case. 

1812.  August  5th.  "Eesolved,  That  Messrs.  Wainwright 
and  George  Handy  be  a  committee  to  inspect  the  house,  and 
have  such  repairs  made  as  may  render  it  comfortable." 

September  2d.  The  committee  reported  "that  window  shut- 
ters, bars  and  bolts  were  required."  "As  the  ground  of  the  church 
lies  unenclosed,  and  ye  legal  title  is  vested  in  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
Jackson,  who  is  aged;  resolved,  that  Messrs.  George  Handy  and 
Samuel  Ker  apply  to  Mrs.  Jackson  for  a  transfer  of  the  property 
to  the  use  of  the  congregation." 

At  this  meeting  of  Session,  Samuel  Ker,  only  surviving  son 
of  the  late  Eev.  Jacob  Ker,  requested  permission  to  remove  his 
father's  body  "to  the  family  burying  ground  on  his  own  farm." 
This  was  approved. 

1813.  May  13th.  The  committee  to  wait  on  Mrs.  Jackson 
reported  that  she  had  given  "a  deed  to  Messrs.  George  Handy 
and  Samuel  Ker,  conveying  to  the  congregation  any  rights  which 
may  hereafter  be  found  invested  in  her." 

1813.  August  18th.  "Eesolved,  That  as  ye  congregation 
is  increasing,  and  the  demand  for  pews  greater  than  can  be  met, 
that  there  be  an  addition  of  at  least  twenty  feet  at  the  western 
end  of  the  church,  and  that  some  new  arrangement  of  the  pulpit 
and  pews  take  place." 

1815.  March  25th.  "Eesolved,  That  3^e  Treasurer  place  in 
the  hands  of  Mr.  Stewart  $1 2.00  to  be  appropriated  equally  be- 
tween ye  funds  of  ye  Missionary  and  Education  Society  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church." 


Interesting  Events.  57 

1815.  August  28th.  A  committee  was  appointed  "to  pre- 
pare a  plan  for  ye  enlargement  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in 
Princess  Anne."  At  this  meeting  it  was  also  "Kesolved,  That 
Samuel  Ker  and  George  ITandy  ])e  appointed  to  prepare  a  peti- 
tion to  Somerset  County,  at  April  term,  for  a  commission  to 
mark  and  bound  the  lot  of  ground  in  which  the  church  stands." 

1816.  March  28th.  "Resolved,  That  an  addition  of  20 
feet  to  the  west  end  of  the  church  be  agreed  upon ;  and  if,  upon 

inspection  of  the  walls,  it  should  be  judged  practicable, 

that  there  should  be  a  half  or  whole  story  raised  upon  the  old 
walls:  and  that  the  whole  interior  of  the  church  should  be  re- 
modelled as  to  the  pews,  putting  the  pulpit  in  the  west  end." 

"Resolved,  That  a  substantial  enclosure  be  erected  around 
the  building."  The  pews,  when  the  alterations  are  made,  are  to 
be  made  choice  of  by  the  people  in  accordance  with  the  size  of 
their  regular  subscriptions  to  the  support  of  the  Gospel.  Where 
the  amount  is  the  same,  "the  parties  shall  draw  lots,  in  case  they 
cannot  agree  between  themselves." 

1817.  April  7th.  "Resolved,  That  in  consequence  of  the 
great  scarcity  of  money,  at  this  time,  together  with  certain  diffi- 
culties arising  from  the  present  circulating  medium,  it  be  deemed 
impracticable  to  prosecute  the  work  for  the  present  season"  of 
repairing  the  church.  It  was  determined  to  appropriate  the 
money  already  collected  "to  the  enclosing  of  the  yard." 

"Resolved,  That  the  south  part  of  the  ground  belonging  to 
this  church,  on  which  stands  a  saw  house,  be  exposed  to  public 
sale." 

1817.  August  loth.  A  committee  was  appointed  "to  pre- 
pare a  petition  to  the  next  Assembly  of  this  State,  to  incorporate 
the  Manokin  congregation."     (See  1831.) 

1818.  January  29th.  Elder  Samuel  Ker,  having  removed 
to  Snow  Hill,  was  dismissed  to  that  congregation. 

1820.  June  7th.  Mr.  Stephen  Collins,  Jr.,  was  elected  a 
member  of  the  Session. 


58  History  of  the  Manokin  Presbyterian  Church. 

Between  1820  and  1829,  the  Minutes  of  Session  seem  to 
have  been  very  imperfectly  kept.  The  following  is  a  brief  his- 
tory of  the  church  during  that  period  :  Mr.  Siemens  continued  to 
minister  to  the  people  until  1821.  Eev.  W.  C.  Kidd,  Principal 
in  Washington  Academy,  occupied  the  pulpit  from  the  fall  of 
1822  to  the  spring  of  1823.  Eev.  Robert  M.  Laird  visited  Prin- 
cess   Anne     and     preached     several    times    in   the    spring   of 

1823.  He  then  went  west.  However,  he  was  invited  to  take 
charge  of  the  pulpit,  and  did  so  on  the  first  Sabbath  of  October, 

1824.  He  remained  until  the  latter  part  of  July,  1825.  Rev. 
Joshua  Moore  accepted  an  invitation  and  came  to  Princess  Anne 
in  April,  1826,  and  was  installed  in  June.  He  remained  until 
September,  1828.  In  December,  1828,  Mr.  Laird  again  entered 
upon  the  work  as  stated  supply. 

1829.  Robert  Patterson  was  ordained  an  Elder  on  the  29th 
of  July. 

1830.  May  15th.  "Resolved,  That  in  the  future,  the 
Lord's  Supper  be  dispensed  once  in  three  months,  if  found 
convenient." 

1831.  "By  an  Act  of  Incorporation,  passed  on  the  14th  of 
February,  1831,  all  the  temporal  concerns  of  this  church  are  to 

be  conducted  by  a  comniittee,  consisting  of  the  minister, 

the  elders,  and  not  less  than  five  nor  more  than  twelve  lay  mem- 
bers."    (See  1817.) 

The  Sessional  records  were  very  imperfectly  kept  between 
the  years  1S32-1840.  A  general  summary,  however,  appears  on 
the  Minute  Book. 

"About  the  close  of  the  year  1834,"  the  Rev.  Robert  M.  Laird 
"became  so  much  enfeebled  by  disease  and  an  over-application 
of  the  various  duties  he  had  to  perform,  as  to  render  him  utterly 
unable  to  fulfill  his  ministerial  duties  in  the  pulpit,  so  that  in 
July,  1835,  it  became  necessary  for  him  to  resign  his  charges 
here ;  and  he,  with  his  family,  removed  from  this  Peninsula  to 
seek  a  more  congenial  climate,  but  he  was  soon  after  called  by 


Interesting  Events.  59 

death  from  the  Church  below  to  the  Church  above."  He  "won 
the  affection  and  esteem  of  all,"  by  his  "kind,  conciliating  man- 
ner, modest,  dignified  and  ministerial  deportment,  and  his  faith- 
ful and  diligent  discharge  of  his  duties." 

"The  Eev.  Ferdinand  Jacobs,  who  was  Mr.  Laird's  successor 
in  the  Washington  Academy,  preached  occasionally,  but  this  by 
no  means  abated  the  effort  to  obtain  a  stated  minister.  It  was 
not  until  the  month  of  December,  1835,"  that  the  Eev.  Enoch 
Thomas,  a  licentiate  of  the  Wilmington  Presbytery,  was  employed 
for  a  term  of  six  months.  He  left  "at  the  expiration  of  that 
period." 

"In  the  spring  of  1836,  the  Eev.  Samuel  B.  Jones 

preached  here,  and  a  call  was  unanimously  made  out  for  him  on 
the  22d  day  of  June,  1836,  but  was  not  accepted." 

In  the  fall,  Eev.  James  P.  Stedman  visited  the  churches, 
and  was  highly  acceptable,  but  declined  to  accept  a  call. 

"About  the  close  of  the  year  1836,  the  Eev.  James  M. 
Stewart  was  warmly  recommended  and  cordially  received."  He 
declined  to  accept  the  call  tendered  him,  and  left  "on  or  about 
the  1st  of  July,  1837." 

"On  the  10th  of  June,  1837,  the  Manokin  congregation  met 

and  unanimously  concurred  in  calling  the  Eev.  Ferdinand 

Jacobs  to  the  pastoral  oflRce  in  Manokin  and  Wicomico  churches. 
The  call  was  accepted  by  Mr.  Jacobs,  with  the  understanding  that 
he  would  not  fully  enter  into  the  duties  of  his  office  until  the 
fall,  when  he  would  be  released  from  his  engagements  with  the 
Trustees  of  the  Washington  Academy.  Mr.  Jacobs'  salary  com- 
menced on  the  15th  of  November,  1837.  The  annual  sum  cove- 
nanted to  be  paid  for  his  services  is  six  hundred  dollars — Mano- 
kin congregation  to  pa}'  $360.00 ;  and  Wicomico  congregation, 
$■^40.00,  in  half  yearly  installments.  Since  this  engagement, 
the  joint  congregations  have  purchased  of  William  W.  Handy, 
l']sq.,  the  house  and  lot  adjoining  the  Manokin  Church,  for  a 
parsonage,  where  the  Eev.  Mr.  Jacobs  now  resides — this  house 
and  lot  is  in  addition  to  the  $600.00  specified  in  the  call." 


60  History  of  the  Manokin  Presbyterian  Church. 

"On  the  23d  of  December,  1837,  the  Presbytery  of  Lewis 
met  at  Salisbury  for  the  special  purpose  of  installing  Mr.  Jacobs 
as  Pastor  of  the  united  congregations  of  Manokin  and  Salisbury 
(Wicomico)." 

"Mr.  Jacobs  preaches  in  this  church  on  every  other  Sabbath 
morning,  and  lectures  in  the  evening  of  the  same  day.  The 
Sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper  is  here  dispensed  twice  in  the 
year,  namely,  in  spring  and  fall." 

"Prayer  meeting,  on  Saturday  and  Sunday  evenings,  has 
been  regularly  kept  up  during  the  period  between  1832  and  1840, 
chiefly  by  Dr.  Samuel  Ker,  when  a  goodly  number  of  those  mem- 
bers who  live  convenient  attend." 

On  the  9th  of  April,  1839,  at  a  joint  meeting  of  the  Sessions 
of  ^Manokin  and  Wicomico  churches,  held  in  Princess  Anne,  it 
was  unanimously  resolved  to  remain  loyal  to  the  Old  School 
branch  of  the  Church,  and  to  send  Mr.  Jacobs  and  Eobert  Pat- 
terson as  representatives  to  Lewis  Presbytery,  which  was  to  meet 
in  Laurel,  Delaware,  April  26th,  1839,  to  urge  that  Presbytery 
to  acknowledge  its  allegiance  to  the  Old  School  branch.  The  two 
representatives  did  the  best  they  could,  but  they  stood  alone,  the 
other  representatives  at  Presbytery  declaring  their  adherence  to 
the  New  School  branch  of  the  Church.  Mr.  Jacobs  at  once  in- 
formed them  of  his  intention,  anrl  that  of  his  two  charges,  to 
follow  the  direction  of  the  Sj'nod,  and  withdraw  from  connection 
with  the  Lewis  Presbytery  and  unite  with  the  Baltimore  Presby- 
tery, which  remained  true  to  the  Old  School  branch. 

1840.  Decem.ber  20th.  William  T.  G.  Polk  and  his 
brother,  Joseph  C  Polk,  were  ordained  Elders  of  the  Manokin 
Church. 

1841.  January  26th.  "We,  the  Session,  hereby  ordain  it 
as  a  standing  rule  in  Manokin  Church,  that  two  sermons  be 
annually  preached,  one  in  favor  of  Foreign,  the  other  of  Domestic 
Missions.'* 

1841.     August  31st.     The  Sessions  of  the  Wicomico  and 


Interesting  Events.  61 

Manokin  churches  met  in  Princess  Anne  and  voted  "that  we 
accede  to  the  petition  of  Rev.  Ferdinand  Jacobs,"  asking  to  be 
released  from  the  '"pastoral  relation  with  this  people."  By 
direction  of  the  Presbytery,  which  met  in  Baltimore  on  the  7th 
of  September,  1841,  the  dissolution  of  the  pastoral  relation  was 
to  take  effect  November  15th,  1841. 

1841.  September  39th.  "The  congregation  met,  agreeable 
to  notice.  Robert  Patterson  took  the  chair.  The  Rev.  The- 
odore W.  Simpson,  from  the  Winchester  Presbytery,  Virginia, 
was  unanimously  chosen  to  succeed  the  Rev.  Ferdinand  Jacobs." 

1841.  The  latter  part  of  October,  Rev.  Messrs.  Elias  Har- 
rison, Cortlandt  Van  Rensselaer  and  John  C.  Backus  held  "pro- 
tracted meetings"  in  the  Wicomico  and  Manokin  churches. 
The  record  is :  "May  the  Lord  reward  them  for  this  labor  of 
love,  and  for  the  great  earnestness  and  zeal  with  which  they 
labored." 

1841.  The  Rev.  Theodore  W.  Simpson,  having  accepted 
the  invitation  to  become  the  Pastor  of  the  united  congregations, 
"arrived  with  his  family  on  the  30th  of  November,  and  com- 
menced his  ministerial  labors  by  preaching  at  Salisbury  on  Sun- 
day, the  5th  of  December,  and  at  Princess  Anne  on  the  18th  of 
December." 

1842.  .Ipril  2d.  "Agreeable  to  a  previous  notice,  the  Rev. 
Rot)ert  T  Berry  preached  and  moderated  the  call.  Rev.  T.  W. 
Simpson  received  the  unanimous  call  of  this  congregation  to  be 
their  minister,  on  a  salary  of  $600.00,  and  the  use  of  the  manse 
and  lot— $360.00  to  be  raised  by  this  congregation,  and  $240.00 
by  the  church  at  Salisbury  (Wicomico),  salary  commencing  the 
1st  day  of  December,  1841. 

"Mr.  Berry  stated,  in  substance,  that  a  proposition  had 
been  laid  before  Presbyter}^  to  dissolve  the  connection  now  ex- 
isting between  this  (Manokin)  church  and  that  at  Salisbury, 
and  unite  Princess  Anne  and  Rclioboth.  After  giving  his  views 
at  some  length  on  the  proposed  alteration  he  submitted  the  fol- 


62  History  of  the  ManoJcin  Presbyterian  Church. 

lowing  question,  in  substance,  to  the  congregation,  Would  theij 
consent  to  the  change?  The  reply  was  to  this  effect:  That  we 
would  consent,  though  reluctantly,  to  the  change,  provided  the 
Salisbury  congregation  were  also  willing,  and  provided  Presby- 
tery will  guarantee  to  us  a  permanent  sum  equivalent  to  the  sum 
now  raised  by  the  church  at  Salisbury." 

1842.  April  19th.  The  Session  of  the  Manokin  Church 
met  and  adopted  several  resolutions  relative  to  the  proposed 
dissolution  of  the  relation  existing  between  the  Manokin  and 
Wicomico  congregations ;  the  third  resolution  was  as  follows : 

"Resolved,  3d,  That  if,  after  Presbytery  shall  have  received 
the  report  of  the  Bev.  E.  T.  Berry,  and  our  commissioner  shall, 
if  requested,  have  given  them  a  plain  and  candid  statement  of 
our  condition,  and  the  state  and  prospect  of  the  sister  churches, 
so  far  as  they  are  known  to  us,  they  shall  still  think  it  best  to 
dissolve  at  this  time  the  connection  now  existing  between  this 
church  and  that  of  Salisbury,  and  unite  this  congregation  to 
the  feeble  flock  at  Eehoboth,  however  painful  it  may  be  to  sever 
old  ties,  and  however  doubtful  we  may  be  of  the  experiment  when 
made,  confiding  in  the  wisdom  and  prudence  of  that  body, 
directed  by  the  great  Head  of  the  Church,  we  will  consent  to  the 
measure  provided  that  Presbytery  will  guarantee  to  us  the  pay- 
ment of  $240.00  per  annum,  for  an  indefinite  period  of  time." 

1842.  June  12th.  Rev.  T.  W.  Simpson  was  installed 
Pastor.  The  sermon  was  preached  by  Rev.  R.  T.  Berry,  the 
charge  to  the  people  was  given  by  the  Rev.  Cortlandt  Van  Rens- 
selaer.    He  also  gave  the  charge  to  the  Pastor. 

1843.  April  18th.  The  Session  met  to  consider  the  sub- 
ject of  electing  Deacons.  It  was  resolved  that  it  is  unnecessary 
and  inexpedient  at  this  time  to  lay  this  matter  before  the  con- 
gregation. 

1848.  September  18th.  At  a  joint  meeting  of  the  Ses- 
sions of  the  Wicomico  and  Manokin  churches,  it  was  "Resolved, 
That  there  be  a  joint  meeting  of  the  Sessions  at  least  once  a 
year." 


Interesting  Events.  63 

1849.  August  3d.  No  mention  is  made  on  the  Minutes 
of  the  resignation  and  departure  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Simpson.  The 
Minute  of  this  date  is: 

"Whilst  the  Sessions  of  these  churches  are  of  opinion  that 
the  connection  whicli  has  heretofore  existed  between  them  was 
dissolved  by  the  dissolution  of  the  pastoral  relation,  yet  in  order 
that  each  church  may  understand  the  views  and  feelings  of  the 
other,  the  following  resolutions  were  unanimously  adopted  (this 
M-as  a  joint  meeting)  : 

"Resolved,  That  we  are  of  the  opinion  that  the  time  has 
come,  in  the  Providence  of  God,  when  the  connection  which 
has  so  long  existed  under  one  pastoral  charge  should  no  longer 
exist,  and  that  each  church  should  endeavor  to  support  a  Pastor. 

"Besolved,  That  these  churches  entertain  for  each  other  the 
same  afEection  that  has  always  existed,  and  that  in  separating 
they  are  impelled  by  no  other  motive  than  duty  to  themselves 
and  the  prosperity  of  Presbyterianism  in  this  region." 

1849.  "Air.  James  Ijaird  Vallandigham  preached  his  first 
sermon  at  Manokin  on  Sabbath  morning,  October  21st,  1849." 

1850.  On  the  10th  of  February,  1850,  he  was  unanimously 
elected  Pastor  of  Manokin ;  and  on  Wednesday,  the  3d  of  April 
following,  was  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  Baltimore  and  in- 
stalled Pastor  of  the  Manokin  Church. 

1850.  "The  church  at  Rehoboth,  desiring  to  unite  with  the 
church  of  Manokin,  for  the  purpose  of  forming  one  charge,  did, 
on  Sabbath,  February  17th,  1850,  also  unanimously  elect  Mr. 
Vallandigham  their  Pastor;  and  on  Saturday,  the  13th  of  July, 
he  was  installed  at  Rehobotii  by  a  committee  of  the  Presbytery 
of  Baltimore.  Between  these  churches  Mr.  Vallandigham  di- 
vided his  time,  preaching  alternately  to  each  of  them." 

1850.  November  3d.  The  Session  resolved  "To  establish 
a  Sabbath  school  in  connection  with  this  church,  and  Mr.  Wil- 
liam T.  G.  Polk  was  appointed  Superintendent." 

1852.     October  17th.     Messrs.  Isaac  D.  Jones  and  John  H. 


64  History  of  the  ManoTcin  Preshyterian  Church, 

Done  were  ordained  to  the  office  of  Ruling  Elders,  and  took  their 
seats  in  the  Session. 

1863.  November  1st.  Judge  Levin  T.  If.  Irving  and 
James  M.  Dryden  were  elected  Ruling  Elders.  Judge  Irving 
was  a  distinguished  jurist,  and  greatly  beloved  by  all  classes  of 
people.     He  died  August  24:th,  1892. 

1865.  February  18th.  "A  committee  was  appointed  to 
make  arrangements  for  a  centennial  celebration  of  the  building 
of  this  church." 

1870.  July  9th.  The  Session  resolved  to  overture  the 
Presbytery  of  New  Castle  "to  devise  some  plan  by  which  an  insti- 
tution for  the  education  of  the  daughters  of  our  people  may  be 
established  within  the  bounds  of  this  Presbytery  and  within  the 
field  of  Rev.  Francis  Makmie's  labors — to  be  called  the  Makemie 
School  for  Girls,  or  some  such  memorial  name.  The  Session 
further  overtures  Presbytery  to  fix  Princess  Anne  or  its  vicinity 
as  the  place  of  tlie  location  of  such  institution." 

1870.  July  10th.  William  Broughton  and  John  Elsey 
Fontaine  were  ordained  as  Ruling  Elders. 

1872.  September  2d.  The  Session  met  in  the  court  house, 
where  this  congregation  is  at  present  worshipping,  whilst  the 
church  is  being  repaired. 

1876.  January  15th.  Messrs.  Rudolph  S.  Cohn,  William 
C.  Fontaine  and  E.  B.  Cook,  and  Dr.  A.  D.  Woodruff,  were 
elected  Ruling  Elders. 

1880.  November.  "Resolved,  That  we  hereby  record  our 
high  appreciation  of  our  late  Pastor,  Rev.  A.  C.  Heaton,  whose 
resignation,  after  a  pastorate  of  twenty-five  years,  makes  the 
appointment  of  a  stated  vsupply  necessary." 

1881.  March.  Rev.  H.  V.  Voorhees  was  called  to  the 
Pastorate  and  accepted. 

Note. — The  foregoing  records  were  taken  from  the  oldest  book  now 
in  possession  of  the  Session. 


Dr.   J  \MES    L.   VAr.LA?fDIGirAM 

]  850-5:j 


])«.  AiiSTiN  C.  Heatox 
1S55-80 


Rev.  William  H.  Logan 
1891-1900 


Kev.  E.  a.  Robinson 
1900-03 


Pastors.     Length   of   Service. 


Historical  Sermon.  65 


HISTORICAL    SERMON    DELIVERED    BY    REV.    A.    C. 
HEATON,  D.  D., 

Sunday,  May  4th,  1865. 


[After  reviewing  the  important  events  which  had  taken  place  in 
the  liistory  of  the  world  since  the  organization  of  the  church,  Dr.  Heaton, 
who  was  the  honored  Pastor  of  the  Manokin  Church  from  1855  to  1880, 
thus  continued  his  very  interesting  historical  discourse.] 

It  would  be  exceedingly  interesting  to  go  up  to  the  very  first 
organization  of  this  congregation,  by  Francis  Makemie,  not  long 
after  his  arrival  in  America,  which  must  have  been  some  time 
in  the  year  1681,*  and  trace  its  history  down  under  the  ministerial 
labors  of  McNish,  Stewart,  Hamilton  and  Hugh  Henry,  but  our 
limits  will  allow  us  only  to  commence  with  the  erection  of  this 
building,  which  took  place  early  in  the  summer  of  1765. 

At  this  date,  this  congregation,  in  conjunction  with  the 
neighboring  congregation,  Wicomico,  was  under  the  pastoral 
care  of  the  Rev.  Jacob  Ker,  who  must  have  been  a  gentleman  of 
great  personal  and  professional  merit.  He,  together  with  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Ker,  of  Goshen,  New  York,  was  a  grandson  of  the  noted 
Walter  Ker,  who,  on  account  of  his  unwavering  adherence  to 
Nonconfonnity,  was  banished  from  the  parish  of  Dalsey,  Lanark- 
shire, Scotland,  September  3d,  1685,  and  on  his  arrival  on  this 
continent  settled  in  Freehold,  New  Jerse)%  and  who,  according 
to  Webster,  was  greatly  serviceable  in  promoting  the  interest  of 
religion,  and  who  died  in  1744,  having  lived  long  enough  to  wit- 
ness the  great  religious  awakening  for  which  that  period  is 
remarkable.  As  Mr.  Ker  was  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  it  is  pre- 
sumed that  he  was  educated  at  Nassau  Hall,  that  he  was  licensed 
by  the  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick,  from  which  it  is  recorded 


*  Written  before  tlip  (liscovery  of  the  Minutes  of  Laggan  Presby- 
tery.    See  page  95. 


Q6  History  of  the  ManoJcin  Presbyterian  Church. 

he  was  transferred,  August  24th,  1764,  to  that  of  Lewistown, 
with  the  commendation  that  he  was  "a  gentleman  of  unspotted 
character,  and  in  good  standing  with  the  Presbytery." 

It  appears  from  the  Sessional  records  of  both  churches 
(Wicomico  and  Manokin)  that  Mr.  Ker  made  his  first  visit  to 
these  congregations  early  in  July,  1764,  and  preached  in  their 
respective  pulpits,  and  it  must  be  admitted  that  his  first  labors 
were  eminently  successful  in  producing  a  deep  impression  upon 
all  for  usefulness.  This  is  evident  from  the  fact  that  early  in 
the  following  August,  a  united  call  was  extended  to  him  from 
both  congregations,  and  from  the  extraordinary  language  in 
which  it  is  expressed.     [See  page  48.] 

The  call  was  signed  by  a  very  large  delegation  from  both 
congregations,  embracing  many  gentlemen  of  the  highest  stand- 
ing in  the  community. 

This  call  Mr.  Ker,  after  mature  deliberation,  accepted,  and 
on  the  third  Wednesday  of  the  following  November  was  installed 
over  the  united  congregations  by  the  Presbytery  of  Lewistown. 
Eev.  Mr.  Miller,  father  of  the  late  Dr.  Samuel  Miller,  of  Duck 
Creek,  now  Smyrna,  Delaware,  preached  the  sermon ;  and  Mr. 
Harris,  of  Indian  River,  presided  and  gave  the  charge  to  Pastor 
and  people. 

It  would  seem  that  Mr.  Ker  entered  upon  his  work  in  these 
fields  with  great  earnestness  and  enterprise,  as  we  find  that  in 
the  very  next  month  after  his  installation  he  stimulated  the  peo- 
ple of  this  congregation  to  commence  the  work  of  erecting  a  new 
church  edifice.  The  record  in  the  Session  Book  touching  this 
matter  is  as  follows : 

"The  Session,  finding  that  the  meeting  house  was  decayed 
in  almost  every  part,  and  not  worth  repairing ;  and  that  it  is  too 
small  to  contain  the  people  that  often  attend,  do  determine  to 
build  a  new  one  of  brick,  50  by  40  in  the  clean,  16  feet  from 
the  water  table  to  the  plate,  to  be  covered  with  inch  cypress 
shingles,  to  have  a  gallery  at  each  end  for  Negroes,  with  such 


Historical  Sermon.  67 

windows,  doors,  pews  and  other  matters  as  shall  be  convenient."' 

It  will  be  seen  from  this  record  that  this  building  is  the 
second  one  erected  upon  this  site;  and  from  the  fact  that  the 
former  building  was  so  thoroughly  decayed,  and  as  there  is 
recorded  evidence  that  it  was  standing  in  1705,  it  is  but  reason- 
able to  suppose  that  the  first  hou?e  was  erected  some  time  ante- 
rior to  the  commencement  of  the  eighteenth  century. 

But  our  duty  to-day  is  in  connection  with  the  present  struc- 
ture; and  we  find  from  the  records  of  the  Session  that  it  was 
built  on  contract  by  Mr.  Samuel  Wilson  for  the  sum  of  600 
pounds.  It  may  not  be  improper  to  remark  here  tliat  the  sum 
which  was  first  agreed  upon  for  the  construction  of  the  building 
was  790  pounds,  but  the  congregation,  finding  themselves  unable 
to  raise  the  stipulated  sum,  obtained  a  release  from  the  contract, 
and  Mr.  James  Wilson  afterward  consented  to  build  it  for  the 
sum  of  600  pounds. 

Also  from  the  records  of  the  Session  of  the  Wicomico  Church 
it  appears  that  almost  simultaneously  with  this  action  of  the 
Manokin  congregation,  a  similar  eifort  was  made  on  the  part 
of  that  congregation,  which  resulted  in  the  erection  of  a  large 
and  commodious  house  of  worship  in  the  second  year  after. 
Thus  it  appears  that  the  commencement  of  Mr.  Ker's  labors  in 
these  two  congregations  was  attended  with  the  happiest  results. 

Moreover,  it  must  be  evident,  from  the  fact  that  the  meeting 
house  was  too  small  to  contain  the  people,  that  his  public  minis- 
trations were  popular,  and  that  the  congregation  was  in  a  pros- 
perous and  flourishing  condition.  This  would  also  appear  from 
the  size  and  respectability  of  the  Session.  This  body,  at  this 
time,  was  composed  of  Messrs.  James  Polk,  Ephraim  Wilson, 
Thomas  Pollitt,  David  Wilson,  Xehemiah  King,  Thomas  Jones, 
Levin  Wilson,  Samuel  Wilson,  William  Skirvin,  George  Irving 
and  William  Polk. 

To  any  one  who  has  any  familiarity  with  the  history  of  this 
part  of  the  State,  it  cannot  be  unknown  that  the  majority,  if  not 


68  History  of  the  Manokin  Presbyterian  Church. 

the  entire  number,  of  these  eleven  gentlemen,  were  persons  of 
high  social  standing  and  of  ample  worldly  fortunes.  And  it  will 
by  no  means  be  invidious  to  remark  that  one  of  them,  Mr.  Samuel 
Wilson,  was  an  accomplished  lawyer,  having  had  under  his  in- 
struction the  celebrated  Luther  Martin,  who  was  Attorney  Gen- 
eral of  the  State  of  Maryland  for  more  than  forty  years;  and 
the  distinguished  Hugh  Brackenridge,  who  afterwards  became 
Chief  Justice  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania.  This  Mr.  Wilson 
was  the  founder  and  chief  supporter  for  many  years  of  that  liter- 
ary institution  now  known  as  Washington  Academy,  and  doubt- 
lessly contributed  more  than  any  other  man  of  his  own  or  any 
other  time  to  the  educational  interests  of  his  native  county. 

It  was  Mr.  Ker's  good  fortune,  not  long  after  his  installa- 
tion over  this  congregation,  to  form  a  conjugal  alliance  with 
Miss  Esther  Wilson,  daughter  of  David  Wilson,  Esq.,  and  sister 
of  Messrs.  Ephraim,  David  and  Samuel  Wilson.  This  marriage 
relation  was  continued  until  June  16th,  1778,  when  it  was  ter- 
minated by  the  death  of  Mrs.  Ker. 

By  reference  to  historical  dates,  it  will  be  found  that  the 
commencement  of  Mr.  Ker's  labors  with  these  congregations  was 
almost  exactly  synchronous  with  the  commencement  of  the  trou- 
bles between  the  colonies  and  the  home  government.  Indeed,  it 
was  the  very  year  this  church  was  erected,  1765,  that  the  cele- 
brated Stamp  Act  passed  the  British  Parliament ;  and  it  will  also 
be  found,  by  comparison  of  dates,  that  his  ministry  covered  over 
the  whole  and  extended  slightly  beyond  the  period  that  is  em- 
braced between  the  commencement  of  hostilities  and  the  adop- 
tion of  the  Federal  Constitution.  Tradition  has  it  that  both 
pastor  and  people  espoused  warmly  the  cause  of  the  colonies,  and 
that  on  tlie  Sabbath  both  went  up  to  the  sanctuary  clad  in  the 
popular  costume,  fustian,  and  unitedly  lifted  up  their  prayers 
for  the  blessing  of  God  upon  their  cause. 

But  the  time  was  drawing  nigh  when  this  faithful  man  of 
God  must  leave  his  earthly  labors  and  ascend  to  his  heavenly 


Historical  Sermon.  69 

reward.  On  the  29th  of  July,  1795,  Kev.  Jacob  Ker  departed 
this  life,  most  graciously  sustained  by  a  good  hope  of  a  glorious 
immortality.  I'hus  terminated  a  ministerial  career  of  more  than 
thirty  years'  duration. 

The  record  which  the  Presbytery  made  at  their  next  meeting 
upon  the  event  of  his  death,  is  as  follows : 

"The  loss  of  this  great  and  good  man,  who  departed  this 
life  July  29tb,  1795,  was  sensibly  felt  by  the  churches  in  gen- 
eral, and  by  this  Presbytery  in  particular.  He  was  a  bright 
luminary  in  the  Church,  who  lived  exemplarily,  preached  warmly 
and  prayed  fervently.  A  pattern  truly  worthy  the  imitation  of 
his  brethren." 

From  the  records  of  the  Session,  we  find  that  the  following 
gentlemen  were  successively  added  to  the  Session,  though  there 
is  no  mention  of  the  precise  time  of  election  or  of  the  mode  of 
induction  into  office:  Messrs.  Tiiomas  Irving,  Benjamin  Polk, 
William  Heath,  Thomas  King,  Denwood  Wilson,  James  Wilson, 
Sr.,  James  Wilson,  Jr.,  Jolm  A\'ilson,  Jonathan  Pollitt,  Samuel 
Pollitt  and  Gillis  Polk. 

After  tlie  decease  of  Mr.  Ker,  the  pulpit  remained  vacant 
for  some  months;  but  it  appears  from  both  the  records  of  the 
church  Session  and  those  of  the  Presbytery,  that  the  Eev.  John 
T'ollins,  a  former  Pastor  of  the  church  at  Eehobotli,  and  a  son- 
in-law  of  Mr.  Ker,  became  their  stated  supply  during  the  summer 
of  the  following  year;  and  it  also  appears  from  the  Sessional 
records  that  on  the  29th  of  August,  1796,  Mr.  Collins  was  invited 
to  become  the  Pastor  of  the  united  congregations,  at  a  salary  of 
150  pounds  per  annum.    But  this  invitation  Mr.  Collins  declined. 

From  the  same  authority  we  learn  that  about  this  time.  Dr. 
Samuel  Ker,  son  of  the  former  pastor,  and  who  for  more  than 
half  a  century  adorned  the  oflRce  of  Ruling  Elder,  became  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Session. 

The  next  year,  1797,  tliese  churches  were  visited  by  two 
licentiates    of    New    Castle   Presbytery — Messrs.   Slemons  and 


70  History  of  the  ManoTcin  Presbyterian  Church. 

Patterson;  and  the  result  of  this  visit  was  that  during  the  fol- 
lowing year  Mr.  John  Brown  Slemons  was  called  to  be  the  Pastor 
of  the  united  congregations,  at  a  salary  of  180  pounds  per  annum. 
This  call  Mr.  Slemons  accepted,  and  in  July,  1799,  he  was 
installed  Pastor  of  these  churches. 

The  Session  at  this  time  was  composed  of  the  following 
gentlemen — Messrs.  William  Polk,  William  Jones,  James  Wilson^ 
Jonathan  PolJitt,  Samuel  PoUitt,  John  C.  Wilson  and  Samuel 
Ker. 

From  the  Sessional  records,  it  appears  that  for  several  years 
from  this  date  the  congregation  had  little  or  no  trouble  in  raising 
their  proportion  of  the  stipulated  salary,  but  that  their  chief 
difficulty  was  in  finding  and  arranging  seats  for  the  regular  sup- 
porters of  the  Gospel.  For  many  years,  Mr.  Slemons  was  a 
powerful  and  popular  preacher,  and  his  praise  was  in  all  the 
churches.  The  records  of  the  Session  during  the  pastorate  of 
Mr.  Slemons  show  that  the  discipline  of  the  church  was,  in  a 
most  commendable  degree,  enforced,  and  that  public  scandals 
and  unworthy  members  were  faitlifully  removed. 

In  the  year  1816,  this  congregation  became  so  large  that  it 
could  not  be  comfortably  accommodated  in  this  house,  and  it  was 
the  determined  purpose  of  the  officers  of  the  congregation  to 
enlarge  and  remodel  the  whole  construction  of  the  building.  It 
was  contemplated  to  raise  the  walls  and  extend  the  length  of 
the  building,  and  place  the  pulpit  in  the  west  end.  This  purpose 
was  contemplated  and  discussed  for  one  or  two  years,  but  on 
account  of  the  financial  difficulties  of  the  country,  it  was  con- 
tinually postponed. 

Mr.  Slemons'  pastoral  relation  terminated  in  1821.  He  con- 
tinued to  reside  within  the  bounds  of  this  congregation  and 
officiated  within  his  sacred  office  whenever  invited.  He  departed 
this  life  in  1832,  deeply  lamented  by  a  large  number  of  friends, 
who  never  ceased  to  cherish  for  him  the  strong  affection  of  a 
beloved  Pastor. 


Historical  Sermon.  71 

For  several  years  after  the  sundering  of  tliis  pastoral  rela- 
tion, the  pulpit  was  unsupplied,  except  by  occasional  visits  from 
clergymen  from  abroad. 

In  tJie  autumn  of  1822,  the  Eev.  William  C.  Kidd,  an  emi- 
grant from  Scotland,  and  a  reputed  son  of  Professor  Kidd  of 
Aberdeen,  was  appointed  Principal  of  Washington  Academy; 
and  having  the  reputation  of  being  a  regularly  ordained  clergy- 
man, was  invited  to  supply  the  pulpit.  He  was  a  man  of  bril- 
liant parts,  of  great  personal  attractions,  and  consequently  drew 
large  assemblies.  Hopes  were  entertained  by  not  a  few  that  a 
brighter  day  was  dawning,  and  that  Mr.  Kidd  would  soon  become 
the  stated  Pastor.  But  in  this  tlie  people  were  doomed  to  a 
bitter  disappointment.  Soon  it  was  found  that  this  man,  who 
had  effectually  kindled  earnest  hopes,  was  very  different  from 
what  he  should  be.  And  thus  the  prospects  of  the  afflicted 
churcli  were,  if  possible,  more  gloomy. 

But  although  the  great  Head  of  the  Church  had,  for  a  small 
moment,  forsaken  these  branches  of  His  kingdom,  yet  it  was  His 
intention  to  gather  them  with  great  mercies. 

Before  entering  upon  another  important  era  in  the  history 
of  this  congregation,  it  will  be  important  for  us  to  look  back  and 
notice  what  changes  had  taken  place  in  the  Eldership.  During 
the  period  wliich  we  have  just  considered,  Messrs.  William  Polk, 
James  Wilson,  Jonathan  Pollitt  and  Samuel  Pollitt  had  been 
removed  by  death.  Col.  George  Handj^,  Mr.  Josiah  W.  Heath, 
Mr.  Thomas  Poilitt,  Mr.  Elias  Bagley,  Dr.  Thomas  Handy,  Mr. 
Jesse  Wainwright  and  Mr.  William  Stewart,  had  been  added  to 
the  Session. 

The  only  noticeable  changes  that  occurred  in  the  external 
history  of  the  congregation  took  place  in  1817 — the  churchyard, 
which  hitherto  had  been  an  open  common,  was  enclosed  by  a 
substantial  railing;  and  that  part  of  the  grounds  (that  which 
is  embraced  in  the  adjoining  lot  on  the  south),  was  sold. 

In  1819,  this  congregation,  by  an  Act  of  T/cgislaturo,  became 


72  History  of  the  ManoJcin  Presbyterian  Church. 

an  incorporated  body,  since  which  time  the  secular  affairs  of  the 
congregation  have  been  attended  to  by  a  committee  of  the  same 
rather  than  the  Session  of  the  church. 

In  May,  1823,  Mr.  Eobert  M.  Laird,  a  graduate  of  Washing- 
ton College,  Pa.,  and  of  Princeton  Seminary,  and  a  Licentiate 
of  the  Presbytery  of  Oliio,  made  a  visit  to  the  church  and 
preached  several  times.  The  impression  he  made  was  a  very 
favorable  one,  and  he  was  earnestly  solicited  to  settle  among 
this  people.  But  as  he  had  liis  heart  upon  a  missionary  field 
in  the  extreme  northwestern  part  of  our  country,  he  did  not 
then  consent  to  entertain  the  proposition  of  becoming  their 
Pastor. 

During  the  following  summer,  he  was  ordained  in  Pitts- 
burgh, and  entered  upon  his  missionary  labors  in  that  distant 
land.  But  while  there,  he  still  corresponded  with  Dr.  Ker,  and 
from  some  intimation  in  his  letters,  it  was  believed  that  he  would 
accept  a  call  from  this  people;  and,  accordingly,  a  large  and 
harmonious  meeting  was  held  in  tliis  church  in  March,  1824,  by 
which  an  earnest  invitation  was  sent  to  Mr.  Laird  to  return. 
This  invitation  he  accepted,  and  returned  from  the  west  and 
entered  upon  his  labors  in  this  field  in  October  of  the  same  year. 

During  the  ensuing  winter  and  spring,  he  preached  and 
spent  much  time  in  visiting  the  people,  in  holding  Bible  classes, 
and  putting  forth  direct  and  personal  efforts  for  promoting  the 
spiritual  interests  of  the  congregation.  His  efforts  were  attended 
with  much  success,  and  the  most  sanguine  expectations  were 
kindled  of  an  abiding  union  being  formed. 

At  this  time,  many  important  additions  were  made  to  the 
church,  but  in  the  autumn  of  1825,  Mr.  Laird,  fearing  the  effects 
of  the  climate,  determined  to  leave.  This  was  a  matter  of  deep 
sadness  to  the  congregation,  as  the  general  condition  of  affairs 
was  becoming  very  happy. 

Some  effort  was  made  to  induce  Mr.  Laird  to  return,  but 
as  it  was  ascertained  that  they  would  not  result  successfully,  a 


Historical  Sermon.  73 

correspondence  was  opened  witli  tlie  Ecv.  Joshua  Moore,  of  Wash- 
ington City,  which  resulted  in  his  acceptance  of  the  offered 
charge.  Mr.  Moore  came  to  Princess  Anne  in  1826,  and  com- 
menced his  lahors.  He  was  very  acceptable,  and  his  congrega- 
tions were  commonly  large.  In  June  of  that  year  he  was,  accord- 
ing to  the  usage  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  installed  Pastor  of 
these  united  charges. 

For  a  season,  the  general  affairs  of  the  field  seemed  to  pros- 
per, but  it  was  soon  found  that  this  union  was  one  which  would 
not  tend  to  the  edification  of  God's  people,  and  the  prosperity 
of  this  particular  part  of  His  heritage.  Accordingly,  in  Septem- 
ber, 1828,  by  mutual  consent  of  both  Pastor  and  people,  this 
pastoral  relation  was  dissolved. 

In  November  of  this  year,  1828,  Mr.  Laird  visited  this  peo- 
ple again  in  the  prosecution  of  the  work  of  an  important  agency ; 
and  at  this  time  renewed  efforts  were  made  to  secure  his  services 
as  Pastor.  And  as  Mr.  Laird  at  this  time  received  an  invitation 
to  become  Principal  of  the  Washington  Academy,  he  also  con- 
sented to  take  charge  of  these  churches.  The  congregation  was 
anxious  to  give  him  a  call,  but  he  objected,  preferring  to  labor 
with  them  as  stated  supply. 

This  was  the  condition  of  affairs  at  the  commencement  of 
the  year  1829.  Mr.  Laird  was  diligently  laboring  in  this  field 
in  connection  with  his  duties  as  a  teacher.  He  continued  to  dis- 
charge his  laborious  duties  with  great  acceptance,  usefulness  and 
success  until  some  time  about  the  close  of  the  year  1834,  when 
his  health  became  so  impaired  as  to  compel  him  to  relinquish  this 
field  and  seek  the  remedial  aid  of  a  more  southern  climate.  He 
went  to  Macon,  Oeorgia,  where  ho  preached  his  last  sermon.  He 
removed  to  Montpelier  Springs,  where  the  exhausted  taper  of 
life,  after  a  few  fitful  flashes,  expired.  The  Hon.  Isaac  D.  Jones 
wrote  of  him,  '"His  kindness  of  heart  and  conscientiousness  of 
person  greatly  endeared  him  to  all  who  knew  him  best."     The 


74  History  of  the  Manohin  Presbyterian  Church. 

closing  paragraph  of  his  obituary  shall  be  the  termination  of  our 
record  of  one  whose  memory  we  so  fondly  love  to  recall. 

"Far  from  the  home  of  his  affections,  though  kind  hearts 
were  open  to  his  claim  for  sympathy,  and  hospitable  families 
received  him  into  their  homes,  no  loved  one  hovered  over  his 
dying  bed  to  minister  to  his  wants  and  perform  the  last  offices 
of  humanity.  Stranger  hearts  received  his  dying  blessings; 
stranger  bosoms  pillowed  his  sinking  head,  and  stranger  hands 
closed  his  eyes.  But  in  all  these  bitter  trials  he  was  more  than 
conqueror.  To  the  last,  his  strong  mind  retained  its  faculties. 
Like  the  dying  patriarch,  he  blessed  the  friends  that  wept  around, 
and  died  in  the  full  assurance  of  faith,  with  the  exclamation  upon 
liis  lips,  '0  what  a  glorious  prospect !' " 

We  find  that  during  the  interim  embraced  between  the  dis- 
solution of  the  pastoral  relation  of  Mr.  Slemons  and  the  removal 
of  Mr.  Laird,  Col.  George  Handy,  Mr.  George  Irving,  Mr.  Josiah 
Heath,  Mr.  Thomas  Pollitt,  Mr.  Elias  Bagley,  and  Mr.  Jesse 
Wainwright,  had  been  removed  by  death  from  the  Session,  and 
Dr.  Thomas  Handy  by  removal  from  the  county.  Also  we  find 
that  Mr.  Robert  Patterson  was,  on  the  26th  of  July,  1829, 
ordained  to  the  office. 

After  the  removal  of  Mr.  Laird,  Rev.  Ferdinand  Jacobs, 
who  was  successor  of  the  former  as  Principal  of  Washington 
Academy,  occasionally  filled  the  pulpit;  and  as  the  Sessional 
records  declare,  these  occasional  services  by  no  means  abated  the 
desire  to  obtain  a  permanent  ministry. 

About  the  close  of  the  year  1835,  the  Rev.  Enoch  Thomas, 
a  licentiate  of  Wilmington  Presbytery,  was  employed  for  a  term 
of  six  months,  but  as  his  labors  did  not  prove  acceptable  to  the 
congregation,  he  left  at  the  expiration  of  that  time.  Early  in 
the  spring  of  1836,  this  field  was  visited  by  the  Rev.  Samuel  B. 
Jones,  a  young  man  of  great  promise,  and  who  received  a  call, 
but  he  did  not  accept  it.  Again,  in  the  aiitumn  of  the  same  year, 
a  Rev.  James  P.  Steadman  visited  the  congregation  and  proved 


Historical  Sermon.  .  75 

highly  acceptahle  to  the  people,  and  was  urged  to  accept  a  call, 
but  he  declined  the  invitation. 

Some  otlier  candidates  came,  but  no  success  was  secured  in 
obtaining  a  Pastor  until  the  spring  of  1837,  when  Mr.  Jacobs 
received  a  unanimous  call,  at  a  salary  of  $600.00,  to  become  the 
Pastor  of  the  united  charge.  Mr.  Jacobs  did  not  enter  directly 
upon  his  labors  until  the  close  of  the  year. 

It  was  about  this  time  that  the  united  congregations  took 
the  important  step  of  purchasing  a  parsonage,  and  they  succeeded 
in  procuring  the  lot,  and  a  house  upon  it,  in  the  location  where 
the  present  Pastor  now  resides. 

As  the  years  1837  and  1838  are  distinguished  in  the  history 
of  American  Presbyterianism  by  the  division  of  the  Church  and 
the  constitution  of  two  Assemblies,  it  would  be  unpardonable 
not  to  notice  the  course  taken  by  these  two  congregations;  and 
their  views  and  feelings  will  be  best  delineated  by  transcribing 
a  series  of  resolutions  passed  at  a  joint  meeting  of  both  Sessions. 
At  a  joint  meeting  of  the  Sessions  of  Manokin  and  Wicomico 
churches,  held  in  Princess  Anne,  Tuesday,  the  9th  of  April, 
1839,  the  following  resolutions  were  unanimously  adopted : 

"Resolved,  First.  As  the  sense  of  the  united  Sessions  of 
Manokin  and  Wicomico  churches,  that  that  Assembly  which 
met  in  May  last,  in  the  Se^enth  Presbyterian  Church,  Philadel- 
phia, and  which  then  continued  its  sessions  until  its  final  ad- 
journment, is  the  true  and  only  General  Assembly  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church  in  the  United  States  of  America. 

"Resolved,  Second.  That  from  love,  as  we  trust,  to  its  Scrip- 
tural faith  and  order,  which  we  value  more  than  silver  and  gold, 
we  hereby  declare  our  unwavering  adherence  to  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  of  which  the  Assembly  above  described  is  the  true  Gen- 
eral Assembly,  notwithstanding  that  by  the  decision  [afterwardrf 
reversed  by  the  Supreme  Court  of  Pennsylvania]  of  a  civil  court, 
the  control  and  use  of  its  permanent  funds  and  other  of  its  ex- 


76  History  of  the  Manolcin  Presbyterian  Church. 

ternal  possessions  have  been  adjiidicated  to  what  we  cannot  but 
call  a  foreign  body; 

''And  Whereas,  Lewis  Presbytery,  under  the  care  of  which 
these  churches  are  at  present,  has  hitherto  failed  to  declare  its 
adherence  to  the  true  General  Assembly  as  above  described ;  and 

"Whereas,  An  order  was  passed  by  the  Synod  of  Philadel- 
phia, at  its  last  session,  directing,  in  case  of  the  continual  failure 
of  Lewis  Presbytery  to  declare  its  adherence  to  the  General  As- 
sembly acknowledged  by  the  Synod,  that  the  ministers  and 
churches  within  the  bounds  of  the  Presbytery  that  do  not  adhere 
to  that  Assembly,  shall  be  attached  to  the  Baltimore  Presbytery ; 
therefore, 

"Resolved,  Third.  That  the  ministers  and  delegates  from 
these  churches  to  Presbytery  be  requested  to  make  another  effort 
to  obtain  a  decision  on  the  question  as  early  as  practicable  during 
the  approaching  spring  session. 

"Resolved,  Fourth.  Tliat  in  case  the  Presbytery  fails  to 
declare  its  adherence  to  the  General  Assembly  which  we  now 
acknowledge,  and  which  the  Synod  acknowledges  to  be  the  true 
General  Assembly,  we  then  apply  to  be  taken  under  the  care  of 
and  watch  of  the  Baltimore  Presbytery,  according  to  direction 
of  the  Synod  above  specified. 

"Resolved,  Fifth.  That  Mr.  Robert  Patterson  is  hereby  ap- 
pointed the  Ruling  Elder  to  represent  the  congregation  of  Mano- 
kin  and  Wicomico  in  the  Presbytery  of  Lewis,  which  is  to  meet 
at  Laurel,  Delaware,  on  the  26th  of  May  next." 

The  following  record  in  the  Session  books  is  to  the  effect  that 
the  Presbytery  did  at  the  ensuing  meeting  fail  to  make  a  declara- 
tion of  its  adherence,  and  the  result  was  that  these  churches  and 
their  Pastor,  together  with  Mr.  Jacob  W.  E.  Ker,  then  a  licen- 
tiate of  Lewis  Presbytery,  did  seek  a  connection  with  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Baltimore. 

Mr.  Jacobs  continued  to  labor  pleasantly  and  acceptably 
with  these  charges  until  the  summer  of  1841,  when  from  some 


Historical  Sermon.  t1 

apprehension  that  his  ministry  was  not  as  grateful  as  it  had 
been,  he  felt  constrained  to  seek  a  dissolution  of  the  pastoral 
relation.  To  this  the  congregation,  though  somewhat  reluc- 
tantly, acceded,  and  accordingly  it  was  dissolved. 

It  was  during  the  pastorship  of  Eev.  Mr.  Jacobs  that  the 
Eldership  was  strengthened  by  the  addition  of  Messrs.  William 
T.  G.  Polk  and  Joseph  G.  Polk.  It  was  on  tlie  20th  of  Decem- 
ber, 1840,  tliat  they  were  solemnly  set  apart  to  this  sacred  office. 

As  we  have  now  reached  a  period  which  is  fresh  in  the  recol- 
lection of  most  of  those  present,  all  that  propriety  will  permit 
us  to  do  is  simply  to  speak  of  events  in  their  chronological  order. 

After  the  termination  of  the  pastorate  of  the  Eev.  Mr. 
Jacobs,  the  pulpit  remained  vacant  but  a  short  time.  Early  in 
the  autumn  of  1841,  the  Eev.  Theodore  W.  Simpson,  of  Win- 
chester Presbytery,  Mrginia,  visited  this  field,  and  received  a 
unanimous  invitation  to  become  its  Pastor. 

But  before  Mr.  Simpson  came  to  enter  upon  the  duties  of  his 
charge,  the  Eev.  Messrs.  Harrison,  of  Alexandria;  Van  Eensse- 
laer,  of  Washington ;  and  Bachus,  of  Baltimore,  made  a  visit  to 
these  churches  and  preached  several  days  in  succession,  to  the 
great  edification  of  God's  people.  This  visit  will  be  remembered 
a  long  time,  as  it  awakened  a  new  interest  and  imparted  a  fresh 
impulse  to  the  cause  of  Presbyterianism  throughout  this  entire 
region.  Soon  after  this  visit  of  these  brethren,  Mr.  Simpson 
removed  his  family  to  this  place,  and  entered  upon  his  ministerial 
duties. 

The  pastoral  relation  now  formed  continued  until  some  time 
in  the  spring  of  1849,  when,  by  mutual  consent,  it  was  dissolved. 

The  particular  event  that  occurred  during  Mr.  Simpson's 
incumbency  was  the  very  general  and  thorough  repairing  of  the 
church  building.     This  occurred  in  the  year  1847. 

After  Mr.  Simpson's  removal,  the  pulpit  remained  vacant 
only  a  few  months.     Eev.  James  L.  Yallandigham,  a  licentiate 


78  History  of  the  Manolcin  Presbyterian  Church. 

of  the  Presbytery  of  Baltimore,  visited  this  people,  preached  and 
received  a  cordial  invitation  to  become  their  Pastor. 

I  should  not  omit  to  mention  here  that  during  the  interval 
occurring  between  Mr.  Simpson's  removal  and  Mr.  Vallandig- 
ham's  induction,  an  important  event  took  place — the  sundering 
of  the  connection  of  the  two  congregations.  The  cause  which 
led  to  this  separation  was  the  increased  demand  for  ministerial 
labor  in  both  parts  of  the  church.  The  action  of  a  meeting  of 
the  joint  Sessions  upon  this  particular  matter  is  couched  in  the 
following  resolution: 

"Resolved,  That  we  are  of  opinion  that  the  time  has  come 
in  the  providence  of  God,  when  the  connection  which  has  so  long 
existed  under  one  pastoral  charge  should  no  longer  exist,  and 
tliat  each  church  should  endeavor  to  support  a  Pastor." 

Mr.  Vallandigham  was  installed  Pastor  of  this  church  on 
the  3d  of  April,  1850,  and  continued  his  labors  with  this  people 
and  the  neighboring  congregation  of  Eehoboth,  until  the 
autumn  of  1853,  when  he  was  dismissed. 

During  the  pastorship  of  Mr.  Vallandigham,  a  heavy  be- 
reavement befell  tlie  congregation  in  the  removal,  by  death,  of 
the  venerable  and  beloved  Elder,  Dr.  Samuel  Ker.  This  oc- 
curred on  the  8th  of  December,  1851.  For  more  than  fifty  years 
he  had  discharged  the  duties  of  his  sacred  office  with  a  zeal  and 
fidelity  that  is  worthy  of  imitation  by  all  who  have  assumed 
similar  responsibilities.  He  was  an  ornament  to  his  office,  a 
pattern  to  his  brethren,  a  holy  and  good  man,  not  riper  in  age 
than  he  was  in  grace  for  the  glories  of  the  New  Jerusalem. 

The  additions  to  the  Session  during  this  pastorship  were 
those  of  Isaac  D.  Jones  and  the  late  lamented  John  H.  Done. 
The  interval  that  occurred  between  the  dissolution  of  the  last 
pastoral  relation  and  the  formation  of  the  present  one,  was  some- 
what over  one  year. 

It  was  during  this  interval  that  the  old  and  inconvenient 
residence  of  the  Pastor  was  removed  and  the  present  structure 


Historical  Sermon.  79 

erected.  The  accomplishment  of  this  object  at  that  time  was 
an  effort  of  no  inconsiderable  magnitude;  and  too  much  credit 
cannot  be  awarded  to  tlie  members  of  the  Building  Committee, 
which  \vas  composed  of  the  late  General  George  Handy  and  Hon. 
John  W.  Crisfield,  by  whose  enterprise  and  princely  liberality 
the  undertaking  was  brought  to  a  successful  completion. 

The  present  pastoral  relation  was  instituted  on  the  20th  of 
June,  1855,  and  will,  on  the  80tli  proximo,  have  existed  ten  years. 

During  this  period,  the  congregation  has  added  a  tower  to 
the  church  building,  procured  a  bell,  and  made  other  repairs 
and  improvements,  and  built  a  comfortable  and  convenient  lec- 
ture room. 

The  eldersliip  during  this  time  has  been  strengthened  by 
the  addition  of  Messrs.  James  M.  Dryden  and  Levin  T.  H.  Irving. 

Mr.  Heaton  closed  his  sermon  with  these  words : 

"May  I  not  well  come  to  you  and  say,  'Eemember  the  days 
of  old ;  consider  the  years  of  many  generations.'  Who  is  there 
here  tliis  day  whose  bosom  does  not  swell  with  deep  emotion  as 
all  the  associations  of  the  past,  with  the  power  of  a  mighty  flood, 
come  rushing  over  him.  To-day  we  stand  on  holy  ground.  We 
are  permitted  to  come  up  to-day  and  worship  in  a  sanctuary  hal- 
lowed to  the  service  of  Almighty  God  one  hundred  years  since. 
My  brethren.  I  am  not  insensible  that  I  am  standing  where  great 
and  good  men  have  stood  before,  and  methinks  I  hear  the  silent 
whispers  of  their  sainted  spirits  saying,  'Brother,  be  thou  faithful 
unto  death.'  And  who  of  you  can  occupy  these  seats  which  have 
so  long  been  occupied  by  the  devout  worshippers  of  this  sanctuary, 
without  deep  emotion.  How  many  feet  have  trodden  these  aisles 
which  are  now  walking  the  golden  streets  of  Jerusalem !  How 
many  voices  here  sung  the  praises  of  God  which  are  now  praising 
Him  in  higher  and  nobler  strains  in  the  upper  courts !  How 
often  has  the  blessed  Spirit  softened  the  heart  and  made  the  tear 
of  penitence  flow !  How  many  hearts  have  been  made  to  rejoice ! 
How  often  have  the  followers  of  the  blessed  Jesus  here  been 


80  History  of  the  ManoTcin  Presbyterian  Church. 

comforted,  supported  and  strengthened !  To  how  many  solemn 
vows  have  these  consecrated  walls  borne  witness !  How  often 
has  the  sacramental  table  been  spread  here !  Tfow  many  fore- 
tastes of  heaven  have  been  here  experienced !  Surely  no  heart 
can  refrain  from  blessing  God  for  all  His  goodness  and  mercy 
vouchsafed  to  His  covenanted  people.  We  bless  Him  for  all  His 
providential  care  and  protection  of  this  ancient  church,  that 
amid  all  the  mutations  and  convulsions  of  more  than  one  hundred 
and  eighty  years,  He  has  had  here  a  seed  to  serve  Him. 

"Moreover,  it  is  affecting  and  solemn  to  think  how  many 
successive  generations  this  house  has  seen  pass  away. 

'Where  many  a  pious  foot  hath  trod 
That  now  is  dust,  beneath  the  sod; 
WHiere  many  a  sacred  tear  was  wept, 
From  eyes  that  long  in  death  have  slept. 
The  temple's  builders,  where  are  they — 
The  worshippers?     All  passed  away. 
We  rear  the  perishable  wall, 
But  ere  it  crumble,  we  must  fall.'  " 


The   original   manuscript   of   this   sermon   is   in   the   Presbyterian 
Historical   Society,   Witherspoon   Building,   Philadelphia. 


In  a  sermon  preacbed  at  the  close  of  his  twenty-five  years' 
pastorate,  Dr.  Heaton  asked  these  pregnant  questions: 

'•'What  has  been  the  character  of  my  pulpit  ministrations? 
Have  I  sought  to  amuse  and  entertain  you  at  the  expense  of 
truth  and  the  Word  of  life?  Have  I  sought  popular  applause 
rather  than  your  present  and  eternal  good  ?  Have  I  trifled  with 
your  immortal  interests,  lulled  you  to  sleep  in  your  sins  and 
been  unmindful  of  the  retributions  of  eternity?  Have  I  looked 
upon  you  as  frail  and  imperfect  men,  whose  depravity  consists 
in  not  knowing  your  duty  and  the  only  remedy  for  your  guilt 
and  sins  more  instmction  and  more  light?  I  feel  perfectly  con- 
fident that  no  one  will  allege  anvtbing  of  this  kind  against  mv 


Historical  Sermon.  81 

public  teaching  and  preaching.  If  there  be  one  sweet  reflection 
in  reviewing  my  ministry  in  this  congregation,  it  is  this,  that 
I  have  not  shunned  to  declare  the  whole  counsel  of  God.  I  have 
kept  back  no  part  of  the  truth  of  God.  The  Gospel  of  the  blessed 
God  has  been  the  great  burden  of  my  preaching  in  this  pulpit. 
That  system  of  doctrine  which  is  revealed  in  the  New  Testament, 
and  was  re-evolved  by  the  Reformers  of  the  sixteenth  century,  I 
have  sought  to  unfold,  explain  and  enforce  upon  your  hearts  and 

consciences Most  of  my  sermons  I  have  written  out  in 

full,  and  they  are  fruits  of  more  than  thirty  years  of  study,  hard 
and  exhaustive  labor.  But  it  has  not  been  my  habit  to  repeat 
former  productions,  and  indulge  in  indolence  at  the  expense  ol' 
my  hearers. 

"With  the  profoundest  conscientiousness,  I  can  aver  that  1 
have  loved  my  work ;  that  I  have  gloried  in  preaching  the  Gospel 
of  Christ,  and  that  no  occupation  or  position  on  earth  is  so  grate- 
ful to  my  spirit." 

This  w^as  a  noble  declaration,  and  one  in  every  way  worthy 
of  this  faithful  and  devoted  servant  of  God.  Dr.  Heaton  also 
took  this  opportunity  to  pay  a  high  tribute  to  his  Elders : 

"I  wish  to  express  my  great  pain  in  being  separated  from  a 
Session  of  such  ability,  wisdom  and  uniform  kindness  and  urban- 
ity. Never,  from  beginning  to  end,  has  there  ever  been  an  un- 
pleasant word  uttered  in  the  deliberations  of  this  body." 


History  of  the  Manohin  Presbyterian  Church. 


MIN^ISTEES  OF  THE  MAKOKIN  CHUECH, 


CHRONOLOGICALLY  ARRANGED. 


"They  ceased  not  to  teach  and  preach  Jesus  Christ,"  Acts  5:  42. 


Dr.  John  S.  Howk,  in  "Eehoboth  by  the  Eiver,"  writes: 
"We  find  it  set  forth  in  the  Somerset  County  records,  that  the 
Grand  Jury  in  1672,  through  their  foreman,  David  Brown,  a 
Scotchman,  and  certainly    a    Presbyterian,  called  Eev.  Eobert 

Maddux  to  preach  at  four  places  in  the  County We  have 

good  ground  for  claiming  Eobert  Maddux  as  a  Presbyterian." 
One  of  the  four  places  referred  to  above  was  "at  the  house  of 
Christopher  Nutter,  at  Manokin." 

The  Manokin  Church  is  generally  supposed  to  be  one  of  the 
five  churches  organized  by  Francis  Makemie,  who  came  to 
America  in  1683,  although  a  church  building  was  certainly  here 
before  he  came.     He  died  in  1708,  at  the  age  of  fifty. 

By  the  will  of  John  Galbraith,  dated  August  12th,  1691, 
"Mr.  Thomas  Wilson,  minister  of  the  Gospel  at  Manokin,"  is 
given  "five  thousand  pounds  of  pork."  (See  Bowen's  "Days  of 
Makemie.)  Wilson  seems  to  have  been  in  charge  of  this  field 
from  1686  to  1698. 

Rev.  George  McNish,  Stated  Supply,  1705-10.     Died  in  1722. 

Rev.  Thomas  Bratton,  Stated  Supply,   1711.     Died  October,  1712. 

Rev.  Robert  Lawson,  Stated  Supply,   1713.     Died  November,   1713. 

Rev.   William   Stewart,    1719-1734.     Died   in    1734-5. 

Rev.  Patrick  Glascow,  1736-41.     Died  March  23d,  1753. 

Rev.  John  Hamilton    {also  written  flambleton),   174G-1755    (circa). 

During  the  vacancy  that  followed.  Revs.  John  Erskine  and  John 

Harris  officiated  in  the  pulpit. 
Rev.  Hugh  Henry,   1758-1763.     Died  in   1763. 
Rev.  Jacob  Ker,  1764-1795.     Died  in  1795. 


List  of  Ministers.  83 

Rev.   John  Collins,   Stated   Supply,    1796. 

Rev.  John  Brown  Slemons,  1799-1821.     Died  in  1832. 

Rev.  Henry  Bhitchford,  Stated  Supply,  1822.     Died  September  7th,  1822. 

Rev.  William   Campbell  Kidd,   Stated  Supply,   1822-23. 

Rev.  Robert  McMordie  Laird,  Stated   Supply,   1824-25. 

Rev.  Joshua  Moore,   182(J-28. 

Rev.  Robert  McMordie  Laird,  Stated  Supply,  1828-35.     Died  in  1835. 

Rev.  Enoch  Thomas.  Stated  Supply,   18:i.5-:i(i.     Died  soon  after. 

Rev.  James  W.   Stewart,   Stated   Supply,   1837. 

Rev.  Ferdinand  Jacobs,   1837-41.     Died  in  Nashville,  Tennessee,  March 

11th,    1894. 
Rev.  Theodore  William  Simpson,  1841-49.     Died  in  Rockville,  Md.,  April 

5th,   1890. 
Rev.    James    L.    Vallandigham,    1850-53.     Died    in    Newark,    Delaware, 

April   15th,   1904. 
Rev.  Austin  Carpenter  Heaton,  1855-80.     Died  in  Middletown,  Delaware, 

December  14th,  1887. 
Rev.  Henry  V.  Voorheea,   1881-1889.     Died  October  10th,  1897. 
Rev.  W.  L.  Bailey,  Stated  Supply,   1889. 
Rev.  William  Henry  Logan,  1891-1900.     Died  in  Wilmington,  Delaware, 

August   27th,    1910. 
Rev.  R.   A.  Robinson,   1900-1903. 
Rev.  Lewis  R.  Watson,  1905- 


84  History  of  the  ManoHn  Presbyterian  Church. 


ELDEES  OF  THE  MANOKIN  CHIIECH. 


"Let    the   Elders    that    rule    well    he    counted  irorthy  of  double  honor, 

especially  they   who  labor  in  the  Word  and  doctrine," 

1    Timothy    5:    6. 


At  the  first  recorded  meeting  of  the  Session  of  the  Manokin 
Church,  April  25th,  1748.  the  following  members  were  present:  Rev. 
John  Hambleton,  with  Elders  John  Gray,  David  Wilson.  Thomas  Brown, 
Henry  Waggamon,  Thomas   Jones  and   Thomas   Pollit. 

This  list  does  not  claim  to  be  complete.  The  date  following  the 
name  is  the  time  when  the  Elder's  name  first  appears  as  a  member  of 
Session.  The  second  date  is  when  he  died  or  when  his  name  last  appears 
in  the  Minutes. 

John  Gray,   1748. 

David  Wilson,    1748,   1783. 

Thomas  Brown,  1748. 

Henry  Waggamon,    1748. 

Thomas  Jones,  1748,   1766. 

Thomas  Pollitt,   1748,    1788. 

Nehemiah  King,   1749,   1765. 

Ck)lonel   Robert  King,    1749. 

Ephraim  Wilson,   1749-50,   1774. 

John    Baird,    1749-50. 

G«orge  Irving,  1749-50,  1769. 

William  Skirven,  1749-50,  1774. 

Benjamin   Townsend,    1750-51. 

James  Polk,  1759,  1769. 

Thomas  Sloss,   1762-63. 

William  Polk,  1762,  1801.      (Died  prior  to  May  6th,  1806.) 

Levin  Wilson,  1762,   1769. 

Samuel  Wilson,  1762,  1789. 

(Break  here  of  nine  vears  in  Sessional  records.) 
Thomas  Irving,    1783. 
Benjamin  Polk.  1783,   1795. 
William  Heath,  1783,  1790. 
Colonel  William  Jones,  1788,   1820. 


ROBEKT    PaTTKRSON 

1S29-7S 


William  T.  O.  Polk 

1840-7^ 


1j:vi:\  T.   II.   Ikv  inc 
lS(;;!-!i-_' 


lit  l)()l  I'll     S.    (  ullX 
ISTC.Mtd!) 


I.i:\(.Tii    OF   SkhvicI':. 


Lid  of  Elders.  85 

James  Wilson,  Sr.,  1788,  1796   (?) 

James  Wilson,  Jr..   1788,  1807.      (Died  prior  to  July  10th,  1810.) 

Thomas  King,   1788,   1796. 

Denwood  Wilson,  1788,  1790. 

John  Wilson,   1788,   1796. 

Jonathan  Pollitt,  178S,   1805.      (Diel  prior  to  July  10th,   1810.) 

fiillis  Polk,    1789,    1793. 

Samuel  Pollitt.  1789,  1802.      (Died  in  1803.) 

Benjamin   Pollitt,   1794. 

William  Pollitt,  Sr.,   1796,  1799. 

Colonel  John  C.  Wilson.   1796.   1808. 

Dr.   Samuel  Ker.  1796,   1818,   18.30,   1851. 

Dr.  Ker  resigned  in   1818,  when  he  removed  to  Snow  Hill,  Md. 

He  returned  to  Princess  Anne  and   resumed  the  office  of  Elder 

in   1830.     He  died  December  8th,    1851. 
Colonel  George   Handy,    1802,    1820. 
Ceorge    Irving,    1802.      (Died    in    1804.) 
Thomas  Pollitt,   1803,    1817. 
Josiah  W.  Heath.  1803,  1817. 

Elias  Bailey,  1801,  1817.      (Was  ordained  May  .3d.  1805.) 
Dr.  Thomas  Handy.  1806,  1809.     (Removed  from  Princess  Anne  in  1810.) 
Je.-^se  Wainwright,    1810,   1820. 

William  Stewart,   1810,   1830.      (Died  May  29th,   1850.) 
Stephen  Collins,  1820. 

(Break  in  Session  records  from   1820  to  1829.) 
Robert  Patterson,   1829.   1878.      (Died  January   13th,  1878.) 
William  T.  G.  Polk,   1840.      (Died  December.   1874,) 
Joseph  G.   Polk.   1840.      (Died  November,   1870.) 
Isaac  D.  Jones,    1852.     Dismissed,  at  his  own   request,  to  a   church    in 

Baltimore,  October  9th,  1870. 
John  H.  Done,   1852.      (Took  his  seat  as  a  member  of  the  Session,  hut 

does   not    appear   to   have    served    subsequently.     He    and    Mr. 

Jones  were  ordained  October  17th,   1852.     He  was  bom  March 

29th,  1818,  and  died  July  25th,  1856.) 
Levin  T.  H.  Irving,   186:',.      (Elected  November  1st,  1863.     Died  August 

24th,  1892.) 
James  M.   Drvden.    1S(;3,    1867.      (Bom    1808.     Died    1885.) 
William   Broughton.   1870.      (Ordained   July   lOtn.   1870.) 
John  Elzey  Fontaine.   1870.      (Ordained   July   10th,   1870.     Died    1874.) 
Rudolph  S.  Cohn.  1876.     (Died  in  Norfolk,  Va.,  July  5th.  1909,  aged  61.) 
William    C.    Fontaine.   1S76. 


86  History  of  the  Manokin  Presbyterian  Church. 

E.  B.  Cook,  1876. 

Dr.   A.  D.   Woodruff,    1876.     Dismissed  October,    1880,  to  a  church  in 

Georgetown,   D.    C. 
William  P.  Rider,   September  30th,   1894.      (Bom   1823;   Died   1906.) 
Dr.   Charles   W.   \^ainwright,   September  30th,    1894. 
Wilmer   O.   Lankford,   September  30th,    1894. 
Robert  W.   Adams.  November   1st,   1908. 


List  of  Members,  1910. 


87 


MEMBERS  OF  THE  MANOKIN  CHURCH  IN  1910. 


"Be  thou   an    example    of    the    believers,   in  word,   in  conversation,  in 
charity,   in   spirit,  l)i  faith,  in  purity,"   1   Timothy  4:    12. 


Adams,  Robert  W. 
Adams,  Mrs.  Robert  W. 
Adams,  Eleanor  V. 
Adams,  Morris  H. 
Adams,  Mary  L. 
Ball,  C.  C. 
Ball,  Mrs.  C.  C. 
Barnes,   Mrs.   Samuel   S. 
Barnes,  Mrs.  Laura. 
Barnes,  Samuel  Sherwood. 
Beauchamp,  Mrs.  0.  T. 
Beauchamp,  Mildred. 
Beauchamp,  Elizabeth   M. 
Broughton,  Mrs.  ilary  A. 
Brown,  Mrs.  George. 
Cauzey,  Alonzo. 
Crisfield,  Ellen. 
Crisfield,  Mary. 
Crisfield,  Louise. 
Carey,  E.  J. 
Carey,  Raymond  M. 
Calloway,  Mrs.  Isaac. 
Calloway,  Mary  V. 
Cohn,  E.  Herman. 
Dougherty,  Mrs.  Z.  J. 
Dale,  Mrs.  Sallie. 
Dashiell,  Mrs.  VV.  H. 
Dryden,  Orrie. 
Dryden,  Mrs.  Orrie. 
Dale,  Richard. 
Dashiell.  Mrs.  Ilance. 
Dixon.  Mary  VV. 


Dixon,  John  Alvin. 
Elzey,  Mrs.  Mattie  C. 
Fitzgerald,  Mrs.  George  B. 
Fitzgerald,  Mrs.  A.  B. 
Fontaine,   William   C. 
Fontaine.  Nannie  C. 
Fontaine,  Charles  W. 
Gale,  Mrs.  William  H. 
Gibbons.  Charles  James. 
Haines,  Mrs.  Anna. 
Handj^   C.  J. 
Handy,  Mrs.   C.   J. 
Handy,  Mrs.  George  H. 
Handy,  Miss  Sallie  B.  W. 
Hayman,  Ernest. 
Haynian,  Mrs.  Louisa. 
Hickey,  Mrs.  Ella  G. 
Hickman,  Mrs.  Milton. 
Huffington,   Ellen. 
Handy,  Charles  F. 
Handy,  Indiana  R. 
Jones,  Georgia  Gelston. 
Jones,  William  S. 
Jones,  Llewella  W. 
Jones,  Olivia. 
Jones,  John  H.  D. 
Jones,  Oscar. 
Jones,  Mrs.  Oscar. 
Jones,  Mrs.  E.  Frank. 
Lankford,  W.   0. 
Lankford,  Mrs.  W.  0. 
Lankford,  W.  O.,  Jr. 


History  of  flie  ManoHn  Presbyterian  Church. 


Lankford,  Mrs.  Ida. 
Lankford,  Miss  Eva. 
Lankford,  Mrs.  Lizzie. 
Lankford,   Clarence  P. 
Lankford,  Dr.  Harry  Marshall. 
Lankford,   Columbus. 
Lankford,  Mrs.  Columbus. 
Lankford,  Amanda  Elizabeth. 
Lankford,  Mrs.  W.  F. 
Lankford,  Dr.  Catherine  F. 
Long,  S.  C. 
Long,  Mrs.  S.  C. 
Long,  Miss  E.  M. 
Long,  Miss  S.  L. 
Long,  William   Broughton. 
Long,  E.  D. 
Long,  Mrs.  E.  D. 
Maddox,  Robert  Hoblitzel. 
Maddox,  Henry  E,. 
iNialone,  Sydney  G. 
Miller,  Mrs.  John. 
McAllen,  Mrs.  Mary. 
Gates,  Mrs.  E.  D. 
Page,  Henry. 
Page,  Mrs.  Henry. 
Page,  Anne. 
Pasquith,  Henry  T. 
Powell,  J.  H. 


Powell,  Mrs.  J.  H. 
Powell,  Cornelia. 
Powell,  Miriam  Grace. 
Powell,  J.  Arthur. 
Polk,  E.  B. 
Polk,  Mrs.  E.  B. 
Pollitt,  Mrs.  Carrie. 
Pollitt,  Mrs.  Susan  A. 
Pusey,  Sydney  C. 
Pusey,  Mrs.  Norman. 
Packard,  Alice  E. 
Reid,  Mrs.  Augustus. 
Reid,  Mrs.  Joseph  W. 
Reid,  Mrs.  Joseph  B. 
Reid,  Mary  S. 
Ross,  Lillie  F. 
Ross,  Clara  Emma. 
Ross,  Sallie  B. 
Ross,  Annie. 
Scott,  Joseph  G. 
Scott,  Mrs.  Joseph  G. 
Smith,  Mrs.  Frank. 
Smith,  Mrs.  T.  J. 
Wainwright,  Dr.  C.  W. 
Wainwright,  Mrs.  C.  W. 
Wainwright,  Charles  W. 
Wainwright,  Frances  N. 
Watson,  Mrs.  L.  R. 


APPENDIX 


Early  Presbyterianism.  91 


EARLY  PRESBYTERIANISM  ON  THE  EASTERN 
SHORE  OF  MARYLAND. 


The  following  quotations  will  indicate  both  the  sources  and 
the  general  date  of  the  early  Presbyterian  settlements  on  the 
Eastern  Shore  of  Maryland. 

"As  the  troublous  times  under  these  English  monarchs  [the 
Jameses  and  Charleses,  1600-1685]  unsettled  the  English  people, 
the  best  of  them  became  willing  to  take  refuge  in  the  American 
wilderness.  Along  with  them  came  the  Reformed  Dutch  of 
Holland,  and  the  Huguenots  of  France.  Most  of  these  people — 
Huguenots,  Dutch,  Englisli,  Scotch  and  Irish — were  essentially 
Presbyterian.  They  were  Calvinists  in  faith,  and  believed  in 
the  government  of  the  congregation  by  elders." — "Presbyterians," 
by  Dr.  George  P.  Hays. 

"During  the  troublous  times  from  1670  to  1680,  a  consider- 
able number  of  families  removed  from  the  North  of  Ireland  to 
the  Barbadoes,  Maryland  and  Virginia." — "Rise  of  Presbyterian- 
ism in  America/'  by  Dr.  Charles  A.  Briggs. 

"A  large  number  of  Presbyterians  settled,  from  the  year 
1670  to  1680,  in  the  lower  counties  of  Maryland  and  established 
several  churches,  at  least  twenty  years  before  the  close  of  the 
century." — '^ Scotch  and  Irish  Seed  in  American  Soil,"  by  Dr.  J. 
G.  Craighead. 

In  all  probability,  the  exact  date  and  the  particular  place 
at  which  the  first  Presbyterian  organization  in  America  was 
effected  will  never  be  known  definitely.  The  Rev.  A.  T.  McGill, 
D.  D.,  at  one  time  a  professor  in  Princeton  Theological  Semi- 
nary, writes  in  reference  to  this  beginning: 

"Maryland  has  claimed  it,  and  historians  generally  concede 
this  claim,  because  in  answer  to  an  application  from  Colonel 


93  History  of  the  Manokin  Presbyterian  Church. 

Stevens  [of  Somerset  County,  Maryland],  in  1680,  to  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Laggan,  Ireland,  Francis  Makemie  came  to  Maryland 
in  the  year  1683,  and  began  to  organize  churches  at  once.  Be- 
yond all  question,  Francis  Makemie,  the  Irishman,  born  in 
Donegal  and  educated  among  the  Scottish  universities,  began 
the  organization  of  our  Church  throughout  the  land,  with 
abounding  missionary  toil  to  gather  it  and  amazing  skill  of 
administration  to  settle  it." 

The  Rev.  J.  William  Mcllvain,  D.  I).,  in  his  paper  on 
"Early  Presbyterianism  in  Maryland,"  prepared  for  "Notes 
Supplementary  to  the  Johns  Hopkins  University  Studies  in 
Historical  and  Political  Science,  1890,"  states: 

"In  writing  an  account  of  the  Presbyterians  in  Maryland 
prior  to  1 706,  a  great  difficulty  presents  itself  at  the  very  outset. 
This  is  the  entire  absence  of  any  church  records.  All  that  we 
know  of  the  existence  of  any  church  organization  is  to  be  gath- 
ered from  a  few  meagre  hints  in  the  public  documents  of  the 
colony,  an  occasional  letter,  or  a  passing  notice  by  some  secular 
historian.  So  fragmentary  is  the  knowledge  gathered  from  these 
sources,  that  the  historian  longs  for  the  skill  of  the  geologist, 
who  is  able  to  reconstruct  for  us  the  living  animal  from  a  single 
bone." 

Dr.  William  Henr}'  Roberts  writes,  in  his  "Sketch  of  the 
History  of  the  Presbyterian  Church :" 

"In  1680,  the  Presbytery  of  I^aggan,  Ireland,  received  a 
letter  from  Colonel  William  Stevens,  a  member  of  the  Council 
of  the  Province  of  Maryland,  entreating  that  ministers  be  sent 
to  that  colony  and  Virginia.  In  compliance  with  this  request, 
the  Rev.  Francis  Makemie,  a  native  of  Rathmelton,  Ireland, 
came  to  Maryland  in  1683.  Mr.  Makemie's  landing  marked  a 
new  era  in  the  development  of  American  Presbyterianism.  At 
the  time  of  his  advent,  isolated  Presbyterian  ministers,  and 
churches  in  large  part  dependent  upon  an  itinerant  ministry, 
were  scattered  from  I^ong  Island  to  the  Carolinas.     He  organ- 


Early  Presbyterianism.  93 

ized  churches  at  Snow  Hill,  Pitts  Creek,  Manokin,  Wicomico 
and  Rehoboth,  in  1683." 

Tliese  churches  were,  at  the  time  of  their  organization,  in 
Somerset  County,  Maryland.  This  county  was  organized  in 
166().  Since  that  time,  two  counties  have  been  erected  from 
portions  of  it — AYorcester  and  Wicomico.  Dr.  John  S.  Howk, 
in  "Kehoboth  by  the  River,'"  writes: 

"We  find  it  set  forth  on  the  Somerset  County  records,  that 
the  Grand  Jury  in  1672,  through  their  foreman,  David  Brown, 
a  Scotchman,  and  certainly  a  Presbyterian,  called  Rev.  Robert 
Maddux  to  preach  at  four  places  in  the  county." 

One  of  these  places  was  "at  the  house  of  Christopher  Ts  utter 
at  Manokin."  Dr.  Howk  says:  "We  have  good  ground  for 
claiming  Robert  Maddux  as  a  Presbyterian." 

Evidently  a  large  number  of  people  were  in  this  neighbor- 
hood, for  we  are  informed  by  Colonel  Stevens  that  on  the  23d 
of  January,  1673,  the  distinguished  Quaker,  George  Fox, 
preached  to  "several  thousand  whites  and  Indians." 

Francis  Makemie,  "to  whom,"  says  the  Rev.  Willard  Martin 
Rice,  D.  D.,  in  his  "Introduction"  to  "The  Presbyterian  Churcli 
in  Philadelphia,"  'Taelongs  the  honor  of  laying  the  foundations 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  as  an  organized  body,  in  this 
country,"  was  at  Rehoboth  in  1683.  He  was  about  twenty-three 
years  of  age.  He  labored  with  indefatigable  zeal  for  the 
spiritual  uplift  of  the  people  of  this  region.  "Here,"  says  Dr. 
Gillett,  in  his  "History  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,"  "in  the 
narrow  neck  of  land  between  the  (^hesapeake  and  the  ocean, 
sheltered  by  the  mild  laws  of  a  colony  founded  by  a  Roman 
Catholic  nobleman,  t!)e  Presbyterian  Church  of  America  began 
its  existence."  According  to  "reliable  tradition,"  Makemie 
organized  churches  at  several  points,  one  of  them  being  known 
as  Manokin  and  another  as  Wicomico.  For  many  years  these 
hv'o  churches  were  united  under  one  pastorate. 


94  History  of  the  Manohin  Presbyterian  Church. 


CHEONOLOGICAL  OUTLINE  OF  THE  LIFE  OF 
FEANCIS  MAKEMIE. 


"By  all  means  include  your  Outline  of  ihe  Life  of  Makemie  in  the 
Manokin  History." — Rev.  L.  P.   Bowen,  D.   D. 

"Born  and  brought  up  in  Ireland,  among  the  descendants  of  old 
Scotia;  ordained  in  troublous  times  of  prelatic  persecutions ;  of  uncom- 
promising orthodoxy  in  doctrine,  according  to  the  straightest  sect;  of 
undaunted  zeal  and  energy  in  prosecuting  evangelistic  efforts;  an  enemy 
of  popery  and  all  forms  of  error ;  boldly  defending  his  religious  system 
and  his  conduct,  face  to  face,  before  royal  governors ;  living  for  the  souls 
of  men,  and  dying  icith  a  solemn  declaration  of  attachment  to  his  mother 
Kirk — certainly  vye  do  not  vnsh  the  father  of  the  faithful  in  this  coun- 
try to  liave  been  any  other  man,  or  any  other  sort  of  a  man,  than  Francis 
Makemie." — Cobtlandt  Van  Rensselaer,  Presbyterian  Magazine, 
1853,  p.  93. 


[In  the  preparation  of  this  chapter,  many  authorities,  other  than 
those  quoted,  have  been  consulted.  I  have,  with  some  diligence,  "com- 
pared history  with  history,"  and  have  thus  been  enabled  to  prepare,  what 
is  difficult  to  find,  a  consecutive  and  fairly  accurate,  although  far  from 
exhaustive,  outline  of  the  life  of  Francis  Makemie. — H.  P.  F.] 


1658. — Approximate  date  of  birth.  Born  of  Scotch 
])arentage,  in  Eamelton.  County  Donegal,  Ireland.  "His  birth 
was  probably  shortly  before  the  accession  of  Charles  II." — 
Presbyterian  Magazine.  1853,  p.  93. 

"He  became  hopefully  pious  at  the  age  of  fourteen." — 
Sprague,  Annals  of  Presbyterian  Pulpit,  Vol.  I,  p.  1. 

1675. — "He  is  enrolled  as  a  student  at  the  University  of 
Glasgow,  in  the  third  class,  February,  1675-6." — Briggs,  Ameri- 
can Presbyterianism.     Appendix  IX. 

1679-80. — He  appears  before  the  Presbytery  of  Laggan,  St. 
Johnstown,  Ireland,  January  28,  "with  a  recoimnendation  from 


Outline  Life  of  Francis  Makemie.  95 

Mr.  Thomas  Dnimond,"  his  minister. — From  Minutes  of  Presby- 
tery of  Laggan. 

1681. — St.  Johnstown,  May  25,  "Mr.  Francis  Mackemy 
delivered  his  private  Homily  on  Matth.  11:  28,  &  is  approven." 
From  Minutes  of  Presbytery  of  Laggan. 

1G81.— St.  Johnstown,  July  ];3.  "The  Meeting  see  it  fit 
to  lay  aside  their  ordinary  business  at  this  extraordinary  meeting: 
onely  we  will,  if  time  permit,  hear  the  exegesis  of  the  two  young 
men  [Francis  Makemie  and  Alexander  Marshall]  who  are  upon 
their  trials." — From  Minutes  of  Presbytery  of  Tjaggan. 

There  is  a  blank  in  the  Minutes  of  the  Presbytery  of 
Laggan  from  this  date  to  1690.  See  extracts  from  Min- 
utes in  Presbyterian  Historical  Society,  Philadelphia. 

1681.— "He  [Makemie]  was  licensed  about  1681."— Hays, 
Presbyterians,  p.  67. 

1682. — "He  was  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  Laggan  in 
1682,  that  he  might  go  to  America.  He  reached  this  country 
in  1683." — Hays,  Preslyierians,  p.  67. 

1682. — He  preached  for  Mr.  Hempton,  in  Burt,  Ireland, 
April  2,  1682. — Bowen,  Days  of  Makemie,  p.  61. 

1683. — "He  was  certainly  in  Ireland  as  late  as  April,  1682, 
and  was  at  Rehoboth  in  1683." — Dr.  J.  S.  Howk,  ReJwhoth  by 
the  River,  p.  8. 

1682-83. — He  arrived  "in  this  countrj^  by  the  way  of  Bar- 
badoes,  either  in  1682  or  1683."- Dr.  J.  G.  Craighead,  Scotch 
and  Irish  Seeds  in  American  Soil,  p.  287. 

1683. — "Francis  Makemie,  a  native  of  Rathmelton,  Ireland, 
came  to  Maryland  in  1683.  Mr.  Makemie's  landing  marked  a 
new  era  in  the  development  of  American  Presbyterianism." — 
William  H.  Roberts,  D.  D.,  History  of  the  Presbyterian  Church: 
A  Sketch,  p.  6. 

1683. — "Makemie  arrived  in  Somerset  some  time  in  the  year 
1683." — J.  William  McTlvain,  D.  D.,  Early  Presbyterianism  in 
Maryland,  p.  16. 


96  History  of  the  ManoMn  Presbyterian  Church. 

1683.— "In  the  fall  of  1G83,  he  travelled  by  land  as  far  as 
Norfolk,  and  proceeded  to  Carolina." — Webster,  History  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  p.  298. 

1684. — "In  Maj'  of  this  year,  he  was  in  North  Carolina.'" — 
Briggs,  American  Presbyterianism,  p.  116. 

1684-85.— In  letters  dated  July  22,  1684,  and  July  28,  1685, 
Makemie  wrote  to  Increase  Mather,  Boston,  from  Elizabeth 
River,  Virginia.  These  lettervS  are  printed  in  Webster's  History 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  pp.  297,  298 ;  and  in  the  Presbyterian 
Magazine,  1852,  pp.  217,  218. 

1686. — "About  1686,  Makemie  departed  on  a  preaching  tour 

southward In  1690,  Makemie,  who  had  returned  to  the 

Eastern  Shore,  was  living  at  Matchatank,  Virginia." — Dr.  J.  S. 
Howk,  Eehoboth  by  the  River,  p.  10. 

1690. — February  17.  Makemie's  name  first  appears  on  the 
Court  records  of  Accomae  County,  A^irginia.  See  Journal  of 
THE  Presbyterian  Historical  Society,  March,  1907,  p.  15. 

1690. — In  this  year,  or  the  following  year,  according  to  Dr. 
L.  P.  Bowen's  Hays  of  Mahemie,  p.  529 ;  and  "about  the  latter 
part  of  the  year  1697,  or  the  beginning  of  1698,"  according  to 
Dr.  William  Hill,  in  A  History  of  the  Rise,  etc.,  of  American 
Presbytenanism ,  p.  127,  Makemie  married  Naomi  Anderson. 

1690. — "In    1690,    Makemie    was     residing    in    Accomae 

County,  Virginia The  next  year  he  visited  London." — 

Webster,  History    of    the   Presbyterian  Church,  p.  299.     (See 
Briggs,  American  Presbyterianism,  p.  117.) 

1691.— John  Galbraith's  Will  (made  August  12,  1691) 
refers  to  Makemie  as  "minister  of  the  Gospel  at  Eehoboth  Town." 
— Bowen,  Days  of  Mahemie,  p.  205. 

1691. — There  is  direct  record  evidence  (see  Dr.  Bowen's 
Days  of  Makemie,  pp.  193,  529),  preserved  in  a  Court  trial,  of 
Makemie's  again  preaching  at  Rehoboth  Church,  April  2,  1691. 

1691.— "In  1691,  Mr.  Makemie  made  a  visit  to  England, 


Outline  Life  of  Francis  Makemie.  97 

and  returned  either  the  same  year  or  the  beginning  of  the  next." 
— Sprague,  Annals,  p.  1. 

1692. — "It  was  at  tlie  Barbadoes  store  in  Philadelphia  [N. 
W.  corner  of  Second  and  Chestnut  streets]  that  Makemie 
preached  the  first  Presbyterian  sermon  in  Philadelphia." — Dr. 
Alexander  T.  McGill,  Centennial  Historical  Discourses,  p.  IT. 

]  692.— "In  1692,  Mr.  Makemie  visited  Philadelphia  and 
planted  the  seeds  of  Presbyterianism  here." — Dr.  Willard  M. 
Rice,  Introduction  to  The  Presbyterian  Church  in  Philadelphia. 

1692. — Mr.  Makemie  was  in  Philadelphia  in  August  of  this 
year.     Dr.  Bowen's  Days  of  Malceniie,  p.  215. 

1692.— Prior  to  this  time,  Makemie  had  written  his  Cate- 
chism.— Sprague,  Annals,  p.  1. 

1692.— "In  1690  he  returned  to  the  P]astern  Shore 

and  became  the  Pastor  of  the  church  at  Rehoboth  in  1691.  He 
did  not  remain  very  long,  but  left  in  1692  for  Philadelphia,  and 
afterwards  went  to  the  Barbadoes,  where  he  remained  for  several 
years.  Again,  in  1698,  he  returned  to  his  old  home  on  the 
Eastern  Shore,  and  made  it  his  home  until  he  died." — Rev.  J. 
William  Mcllvain,  D.  D.,  Ea7-ly  Preshyieriunisni  in  Maryland. 
p.  16. 

1696. — There  are  letters  preserved  of  Makemie  written 
from  Barbadoes,  December  28,  1696;  January  17,  1697-8;  and 
February  12,  1697-8. — Briggs,  American  Presbyierianisui. 
Appendix  X. 

1698. — William  Anderson's  Will  was  signed  July  23,  and 
recorded  October  10.  He  refers  to  "Mr.  Francis  Makemie  and 
Naomie,  his  wife,  my  eldest  Daughter,"  showing  that  Mr.  Make- 
mie was  married  at  this  date.  Again  the  Will  says,  "If  my 
daughter  Naomie  have  no  issue,"  showing  that  no  children  were 
born  to  her  at  this  time.  (See  Journ.m,  of  the  Presbyterian 
Historical  Society,  March,  1907,  pp.  16-24.) 

1698. — Makeniie's  "name  does  not  appear  on  the  Records 


98  History  of  the  Manolcin  Presbyterian  Church. 

of  Accomac  County,  Virginia,  from  February  21,  1692,  to  Octo- 
ber 4,  1698." — Briggs,  American  Presbyterianism,  p.  118. 

1699. — "In  October,  1699,  Mr.  Makemie  obtained  a  formal 
license  to  preach,  agreeably  to  the  requirements  of  the  Toleration 
Act,  having  previously  received  a  certificate  of  his  qualifications 
at  Barbadoes." — Sprague,  Annals,  p.  2.  (See  Dr  Bowen's  Days 
of  Makemie,  p.  309.) 

1703. — The  day  before  the  death  of  Mrs.  Mary  Anderson 
(William's  second  wife),  on  the  12th  of  November,  she  spoke  of 
Elizabeth  Makemie,  the  first  child  of  Francis  Makemie.  This, 
together  with  William  Anderson's  Will,  proves  that  Elizabeth 
was  born  between  the  years  1098  and  1703. — Journal  of  the 
Presbyterian  Historicai,  Society,  September,  1907,  p.  111. 

1703. — Contemplating  "a  Voyage  to  England,"  Makemie 
gives  his  wife,  Naomi,  power  of  attorney,  to  manage  his  affairs 
during  his  absence ;  but,  for  some  reason,  seems  to  have  postponed 
his  voyage. — Journal  of  the  Presbyterian  Historical 
SociTY,  September,  1907,  p.  109. 

1704. — Executed  a  power  of  attorney  to  liis  wife.  May  30, 
reciting  that  he  was  about  to  depart  for  Europe. — Journal  of 
THE  Presbyterian  Historical  Society,  September,  1907,  p. 
115. 

1705. — Returned  from  Europe,  bringing  with  him  "John 
Hampton,  an  Irishman,  and  George  McNish,  a  Scotchman." — 
Briggs,  American  Presbyterianism,  p.   139. 

1705. — "There  is  record  evidence  of  the  fact,  that  there 
were  five  church  edifices,  and  as  many  organized  Presbyterian 
congregations,  in  Somerset  County,  on  the  13th  day  of  March, 

1705 The  Presbyterian  Church  in  America  owes  a  debt 

to  the  memory  of  Francis  Makemie  which  has  never  been  dis- 
charged."— Spence,  Early  History  of  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
pp.  82,  83. 

1706. — "In  1706,  Makemie  had  the  new  church  building  at 


Outline  Life  of  Francis  Makemie.  99 

Rehoboth,  which  is  the  one  still  standing,  erected  on  his  own 
land/' — Dr.  J.  S.  Howk,  Rehoboth  by  the  River,  p.  10. 

1706. — Dr.  Alfred  Nevin,  in  History  of  the  Presbytery  of 
Philadelphia,  p.  64,  says  that  the  first  meeting  of  the  Presbytery 
was  "in  the  spring  of  1706.'"'  Dr.  B.  L.  Agnew,  in  Westminster 
Anniversary  Addresses,  p.  165,  also  states  that  "the  first  classical 
assembly  organized  in  this  country  was  organized  under  the  name 
of  'The  Presbytery,'  March  22,  1706."  Presumably  the  meeting 
was  held  in  the  building  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church, 
erected  before  1705,  at  Market  and  Bank  Streets,  Philadelphia. 
It  is  believed  that  Makemie  was  the  first  Moderator.  His  name 
is  the  first  to  appear  on  the  oldest  record  extant.  (Records  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church,  p.  9.)  For  an  able  presentation  of 
this  subject,  see  Journal  of  the  Presbyterian  Historical 
Society,  March,  1905,  pp.  9-24. 

1706. — "After  the  adjournment  of  the  Presbytery  of  Phila- 
delphia, October  27,  1706,  Francis  Makemie  took  with  him  John 
Hampton,  and  set  out  on  a  journey  to  Boston." — Briggs,  Ameri- 
can Presbyterianism,  p.  152. 

1707. — On  reaching  New  York,  and  preaching  there,  he  wa?, 
in  January,  arrested  by  order  of  Lord  Cornbury,  for  being,  as 
alleged  by  Cornbury,  "a  strolling  preacher,"  and  "spreading 
pernicious  doctrines."  After  spending  nearly  two  months  in 
prison,  he  was  released  on  bail. — Bowen,  Days  of  Makemie,  pp. 
420-448. 

1707. — On  his  way  home  to  A^irginia,  he  stopped  in  Phila- 
delphia, and  attended  the  meeting  of  Presbytery,  March  25. 
(See  photographic  copy  of  letter  to  Colman,  in  Presbyterian 
Historical  Society,  dated  "Philadelphia,  March  28,  1707.") 

1707. — Tn  June,  Afr.  Makemie  ''returned  from  Virginia  to 
Xew  York  to  stand  his  trial." — Sprague,  Annals,  p.  3. 

1707. — "The  Supreme  Court  met  on  Tuesday,  March  11," 
at  which  time  Makemie  was  present.  "The  grand  jury  examined 
four  witnesses,  who  testified   that  Makemie  preached   no  false 


100  History  of  the  ManoJcin  Presbyterian  Church. 

doctrine The  trial  was  set  down  for  the  June  term ;  and 

Makemie,  on    his    own    bonds    and  those  previously  given,  was 

allowed  to  depart The  law  of  the  Province  was,  that  all 

persons  professing  faith  in  God  by  Jesus  Christ  His  only  Son, 
may  freely  meet  at  convenient  places  and  w^orship  according  to 
their  respective  persuasions."  Tt  will  be  seen  from  this  that 
Makemie,  in  preaching  in  New  York,  was  acting  well  within  his 
legal  rights. — Webster,  History  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in 
America,  pp.  304,  30o. 

1707. — "Notwithstanding  his  acquittal,  his  bail  was  not 
discharged  until  he  had  paid  the  whole  cost  of  the  prosecution, 
amounting  to  the  sum  of  eighty-three  pounds,  seven  shillings  and 
six  pence." — Spence,  Early  History  of  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
p.  72. 

1707. — "The  result  of  the  trial  was  an  acquittal  by  the  jury. 

He  seems  to  have  pursued  his  journey  to  New  England, 

as  he  addressed  a  letter  to  Lord  Cornbuiy  from  Boston,  in  July, 
1707." — Sprague,  Annals,  p.  4.  (See  Dr.  Bowen's  Days  of 
Mahemie,  pp.  477,  478.) 

A  bequest  in  Makemie's  Will,  made  soon  after,  would 
indicate  that  Dr.  Sprague  had  reached  right  conclusions, 
from  the  fact  that  "Mr.  Jedediah  Andrews,  Minister  at 
Philadelphia,"  is  given  "my  new  Cane  bought  and  fixed 
in  Boston." 

1708. — Makemie's  Will  was  signed  April  27.  In  it  refer- 
ence is  made  to  his  wife  and  two  daughters — his  "Eldest  Daugh- 
ter, Elizabeth  Makemie,"  and  his  "youngest  Daughter,  Anne 
Makemie." — Journal  of  the  Presbyteeian  Historical 
Society,  September,  1907,  pp.  125-130. 

1708. — The  Will  was  ordered  to  be  recorded  August  4,  show- 
ing that  Makemie  died  between  April  27  and  August  4,  at  the 
age  of  fifty. 

1708. — Elizabeth,  tlie  older  daughter,  died  during  the  sum- 
mer.    She  was  probably  about  nine  years  of  age.     Her  mother. 


Outline  Life  of  Francis  Makemie.  101 

Naomi  Makemie,  petitioned  the  Aceomac  County,  \^irginia,  Court 
for  administration  papers  on  the  6th  of  October,  1708,  "on  the 
estate  of  Elizabeth  Makemie,  her  daughter,  late  deceased,  she 
dying  intestate." — Journal  of  the  Presbyterian  Historical 
Society,  December,  1907,  p.  165. 

1787-8. — Makemie's  younger  daughter,  Anne  Makemie 
Holden,  died,  having  been  thrice  married.  She  left  no  children, 
therefore  Makemie  has  no  lineal  descendants.  Mrs.  Holden's 
Will  is  dated  November  15,  1787,  and  was  probated  January  29, 
1788.  Between  these  two  dates  she  died. — Journal  of  the 
Presbyterian  Historical  Society,  December,  1907,  pp. 
193-197. 

1831. — The  only  portrait  of  Makemie  known  to  have  been 
in  existence  (see  Mrs.  Holden's  Will)  was  destroyed  in  the  burn- 
ing of  the  home  of  Rev.  Stephen  Bloomer  Balch,  D.  D.,  George- 
town, D.  C,  in  1831.— r./,?  Westminster,  May  16,  1908,  p.  10. 

1888. — July  1st,  a  tablet  containing  the  following  inscrip- 
tion was  unveiled  in  the  Rehoboth  church  by  Rev.  James  Con- 
way, D.  D. : 

To 

FRANCIS  MAKEMIE, 

father  of  thk 

American  Presbyterian  Church. 

REHOBOTH, 

His  First  and  Favorite  Child: 

Founded  A.  D.  168.3. 


These  Sacred  Grounds  were 

Given  by  Him. 

He  said: 

"Everything   should   tend   Heavenward." 

1908. — On  the  14th  of  May,  a  handsome  stone  monument 
was  dedicated  by  the  Presbyterian  Historical  Society,  through 
the  efforts  of  Dr.  Henry  C.  McCook,  to  the  memory  of  Francis 
Makemie,  on  the  site  of  his  grave,  on   the  banks  of  Holden's 


102  History  of  the  ManoMn  Presbyterian  Church. 

Creek,  Accomac  County,  Virginia.     The  following  is  the  in- 
scription on  the  monument : 

ERECTED  IN  GRATITUDE  TO  GOD 
And  in  grateful  remembrance  of  His  servant  and  minister 
FRANCIS  MAKEMIE 
who  was  born  in  Ramelton,  County  Donegal,  Ireland,  A.  D.   1658    (  ?). 
was  educated  at  Glasgow  University,  .Scotland,  and  came  as  an  ordained 
Evangelist  to  the  American  Colonies,  A.  D.   1083.  at  the  request  of  Col. 
William  Stevens,  of  Rehoboth,  Marjiand.     A  devoted  and  able  preacher 
of  our  Lord's  Gospel,  he  labored  faithfully  and   freely   for  twenty-five 
years  in  Maryland,  Virginia,  the  Barbadoes  and  elsewhere.     A  Christian 
gentleman,  an  enterprising  man   of  aflairs,  a   public-spirited   citizen,   a 
distinguished  advocate  ox  Religious  Liberty,  for  which  he  sufi'ered  under 
the  Governor  of  New  York,  he  is  especially  remembered  as 

THE    CHIEF   FOUNDER    OF    ORGANIZED    PRESBYTERY    IN    AMERICA,    A.    D.    170(). 
AND    AS    THE    FIRST    MODERATOR    OF    THE    GENERAL    PRESBYTERY. 

He  died  at  his  home,  whose  site  is  nearby,  in  Accomack  County,  Vir- 
ginia, in  the  summer  of  A.  D.  1708,  and  was  buried  in  his  family  ceme- 
tery, located  on  this  spot,  now  recovered  from  a  long  desecration  and 
dedicated  with  this  monument  to  his  memory  A.  D.  1908,  by  the  Ameri- 
can "Presbyterian  Historical  Society,"  seated  at  Philadelphia,  Penn- 
sylvania. 


Note. — The  sources  of  information  from  which  this  chapter  is 
compiled  may  be  found  in  the  library  of  The  Presbyterian  Historical 
Society,  Witherspoon  Building,  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania. 


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